Kansas City hospital cuts labor, delivery services, citing low demand
Research Medical Center in Kansas City will end its obstetrics program and close its neonatal intensive care unit this fall, hospital leadership announced in a statement this week.
The hospital will no longer provide labor and delivery or neonatal intensive care starting Sept. 8, according to the statement.
Research Medical Center is part of HCA Midwest Health. A spokesperson for the hospital said the change comes after seeing an 80% decrease in the community’s use of labor, delivery and neonatal care.
“Research Medical Center regularly reviews the evolving needs of our community and adjusts services accordingly to ensure we are providing high-quality, compassionate patient care where it is needed most,” the statement reads.
The hospital said it plans to reinvest in other departments, including emergency and trauma, cardiology, neuroscience, and burn and transplant care. Hospital leadership said in its statement that they have seen an increased demand for those services.
“We are working with area physicians and health centers to ensure obstetrics patients are aware of this change and the several other delivery options available to them in the community,” Research Medical said in a statement.
It was unclear this week how many staff will be affected by the change.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas took to social media to commend the hospital Wednesday and extend gratitude to affected staff.
“Kansas City will work to ensure access to top care for mothers and babies in all of our community,” Lucas said in a Facebook post. “Kansas City also will work to ensure the other strong healthcare services available in our community at Research remain in our community for generations to come.”
“My heart goes out to all staff impacted by today’s news,” Lucas said.
