Maternity ward closure now under review

Planned closing due to fewer babies being delivered in area

SHARON — The decision to close the maternity ward at Sharon Hospital is being reviewed by hospital administrators and the medical group that provides care for expectant mothers.

“We’re trying to fix things as soon as possible,” said Dr. Robert Schnurr, of Sharon OB/GYN Associates. “The issues are being decided right now.”

When news became public in early July that the hospital planned to close its maternity ward in August, the hospital released a statement about its decision. Officials noted that fewer babies were being delivered in the area and the decrease caused the hospital to consider focusing on other aspects of women’s health care.

Sarah Colomello, a public and community affairs manager for the hospital group, said at the time that the decision was also made due to a reduction in the number of obstetricians available to deliver babies. She said only two doctors from the practice deliver babies.

However, Schnurr said on Wednesday that the medical

group has had three doctors on call for 15 years, and the number had not changed.

“There are a combination of factors that are critical,” to maintain, Shnurr said, as an agreement is being worked out with Health Quest, which owns the hospital.

A new group called “Save Sharon Hospital” held a rally last Saturday on the Sharon Town Green. Supporters carried a sign calling for Health Quest to not remove “critical health services in our community.”

Herbert Moore, member of the group, was recently interviewed about the outreach effort on a podcast by Robin Hood radio.

Moore said in the interview that the group

In a statement provided Wednesday evening, Colomello said the hospital and the medical group will develop a plan “on when the hospital’s Maternity Ward will stop delivering babies. We are hopeful that our collaboration will lead to a definitive timeline.”

doesn’t agree with the information the hospital provided about low birth volumes.

“It just doesn’t add up,” Moore said, adding that state records show that 13 years ago, there were 243 births in the region. In 2017, Moore said, the number had grown to 255. “It’s gone up by five percent,” he said.

In contrast, the July 3 statement from the hospital group projects that there will be 220 births in 2018 and just 163 births anticipated in 2020.

“In essence, as the number of cases decreases, the chance of complications increases,” Colomello wrote.

In order to close the maternity ward, Sharon Hospital would be required to file a “Certificate of Need,” application with the state Office of Health Strategy, which oversees hospital regulations. It has not yet done so, according to Juliet Manalan, the office’s Communications Director.

Going forward, Shnurr noted that the medical group, if it is to continue to practice at the hospital, will ask that the hospital maintain two services: local prenatal care and OB/GYN emergency room backup.

The medical group has met with hospital officials twice, Shnurr said. “We are putting the pieces together. The ball is back in their court,” he said.

In a statement provided Wednesday evening, Colomello said the hospital and the medical group will develop a plan “on when the hospital’s Maternity Ward will stop delivering babies. We are hopeful that our collaboration will lead to a definitive timeline.”

There are “no plans to close the hospital,” the statement read. “Since Health Quest purchased Sharon Hospital in August 2017, the nonprofit invested $15 million into the hospital’s growth and long-term success.”