“A Community’s Plea to Keep Fort Logan’s Birthing Unit Open”
By Abigail Roberts
As of Tuesday morning, a local online petition to keep Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital’s labor and delivery services in Stanford had reached 3,320 signatures.
On Friday, Jan. 16, Ephraim McDowell Health announced it will be moving inpatient labor and delivery services from Stanford to Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center (EMRMC) in Danville.
The petition, posted on change.org, says many expectant mothers in the community are experiencing fear, panic and deep uncertainty following the announcement.
“Women who carefully chose this facility — and who have already established prenatal care with trusted providers at Fort Logan Hospital, including Dr. Bates, Dr. Miller, Dr. Sims, and others who faithfully serve our community — are now facing the possibility of losing the place and people they entrusted with one of the most vulnerable and meaningful moments of their lives,” the petition states.
Ephraim McDowell Health said in the announcement that the EMRMC OB unit is able to provide additional capacity (18 beds) and serve more mothers and babies and includes a Level II Special Care Nursery to care for our community’s vulnerable babies right where they are born.
“Moving OB services from Fort Logan Hospital enables us to elevate the level of care provided to our OB mothers and babies and serve our community’s healthcare needs more efficiently,” the press release states.
The petition argues that not only does this add travel time to expecting mothers – about 11 miles, or roughly 15 minutes – but it also disrupts their birthing plans.
“For these mothers, this is not simply about a location. It is about continuity of care, trust built over months, and the comfort of knowing their provider understands their medical history, their birth plan, and their fears,” the petition states. “Being asked to change hospitals and providers late in pregnancy has caused overwhelming stress for families who believed their birth journey was already safely planned.”
The petition says that for over 40 years, Fort Logan Hospital has welcomed more than 10,000 babies and provided compassionate, trusted care to families in Lincoln County and surrounding areas.
“The planned closure of this remarkable birthing unit leaves expectant mothers, families, and our community devastated,” the petition states.
Dr. Bates, Miller and Sims also posted an update on Facebook telling their patients they are still here for them and to keep their appointments.
“We are still here for you. We will still see you in our Stanford office. We hope to be back in Stanford soon,” the post states. “Deliveries will temporarily take place at EMRMC beginning Feb. 16, while we work toward bringing births back to Stanford. Wherever your baby is born, your trusted care team will be with you.”
To see the petition visit: https://www.change.org/p/a-community-s-plea-to-keep-fort-logan-s-birthing-unit-open
