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Jameson closes maternity center earlier than expected
By Kalea Hall
NEW CASTLE, pA.
Jameson Health System’s Maternity Care Center will close today, just about two weeks before it initially was slated to close.
Jameson announced Tuesday the center would close prior to the original closure date of Sept. 1 because the hospital could no longer provide adequate staffing for it.
Officials at Jameson, 211 Wilmington Ave., feel it is an “absolute necessity to provide sufficient physician and obstetrical nurse staffing to maintain 24-hour services to uphold the safe and high-quality manner of care.”
Patients expecting to deliver between Aug. 20 and Aug. 31 were contacted, and alternate arrangements have been made for labor and delivery service with nearby hospitals. Jameson’s emergency-department physicians and staff will continue labor and delivery training for any obstetrical emergencies.
Gynecological services will continue to be provided.
Jameson spokeswoman Lisa Lombardo explained the hospital went down to just two obstetricians.
“Those two were servicing the 24-hour emergency department and their own patients since October of last year,” Lombardo said.
Jameson first announced in late July it would close its maternity center after a recruitment process for obstetricians was unsuccessful .
Doug Danko, Jameson president and chief executive officer, said the discontinued service was another implication of the merger delay with The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
UPMC and Jameson both hoped the merger would be approved and completed by March or April, but the review process by the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office has continually been pushed back.
The attorney general’s office recently advised Jameson officials it would like them to take a comprehensive look at all of the potential buyers.
“In these cases, we are reviewing the issue to just ensure the consumers have access to affordable health care,” said Jeff Johnson, spokesman for the attorney general’s office.
In May, the hospital’s board of directors also had to make the decision to scale back operations at the south campus from seven days a week to weekday daytime hours. The south campus offers mostly outpatient services.
Lawrence County officials recently went to a meeting at the attorney general’s office to discuss their concerns and the importance of the Jameson Health System to the Lawrence County economy since it is the largest employer in the county.
“Our concern is they are in position that they need to partner with another [hospital] to remain economically viable,” said Dan Vogler, chairman of the Lawrence County commissioners. “We are just concerned that the [merger] not be held up.”
UPMC has extended its commitment to the merger through Dec. 31.
“We believe that the merger agreement, signed by both organizations’ boards of directors, is the best option to preserve the future of Jameson and quality health care for this region,” a UPMC spokesperson said in a statement.
Jameson’s board of directors must vote before other merger options are pursued.