By Abigail Roberts
In response to a recent statement made by the Cumberland Family Medical Center, Inc., (CFMC), Ephraim McDowell Health said there will be no disruption in women’s health care services in Danville.
On Jan. 16 Emphraim McDowell Health announced they will be moving inpatient labor and delivery services from Stanford’s Fort Logan Hospital Birthing Spa to Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center (EMRMC) in Danville beginning Feb. 16.
The announcement received immediate backlash from expecting mothers, families and local providers. An online petition garnered over 4,000 signatures and protests were held in Stanford to bring awareness to the situation.
Even Kentucky country music star Tyler Childers joined the conversation, as his wife Senora May had planned to deliver at the FLH Birthing Spa this summer. The couple previously gave birth to their first child at the spa in 2022.
So far, none of this has changed Ephraim McDowell Health’s plans to move the services to Danville.
A few days before the expected move, the Stanford providers were informed they would not be given privileges to continue to care for their patients in Danville.
This news spurred a response from CFMC. Just three days before Ephraim McDowell Health plans to move inpatient labor and delivery services from Stanford to Danville, Cumberland Family Medical Center Inc.’s Women’s Care of the Commonwealth has announced it will be withdrawing from labor and delivery services for all OB/GYN patients at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center (EMRMC).
The CFMC released a statement Friday, Feb. 13, and said Ephraim McDowell’s decision was made without the knowledge or consent of CFMC, which is the sole on-staff provider of women’s health care services at EMRMC.
The group said CFMC was not consulted or notified of the imminent Fort Logan closure before the decision was made public on Jan. 16.
Ephraim McDowell Health responded to CFMC in a statement Friday, Feb. 13.
“Committed and dedicated OB-GYNs will safeguard the comfort and safety of our patients and newborns ensuring there is no disruption to maternal care services at EMRMC,” said Daniel McKay, President and CEO of Ephraim McDowell Health. “We are aware of the misleading statement issued by Cumberland Family Medical Center, Inc, and we want to reassure our community that access to obstetrics care will be seamless and unobstructed.”
OB-GYNs currently employed by Cumberland Family Medical Center, Inc., will continue to provide seamless care and obstetrics coverage through March 15, according to the statement.
“Ephraim McDowell Health will announce a long-term specialized provider solution for maternal health services within the next few weeks,” the statement reads. “The on-site specialist physician coverage will also serve to provide a seamless transition for expectant mothers that had planned to deliver at Fort Logan Hospital’s OB unit.”
