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Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center to End Obstetric Services by April 2025
Description: Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center to End Obstetric Services by April 2025...
Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center Announces Closure of Obstetric Services
LA JUNTA, CO - (January 30, 2025) - After careful consideration, the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center Board of Directors has announced the planned closure of obstetric services on April 30, 2025. The Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center Board and leadership arrived at this difficult decision due to:
The significant monthly financial losses sustained by the OB program Low monthly birth rate volumes below cost underfunding of OB services by the CO Medicaid program with changes in the healthcare industry, Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center- like many other rural and community hospitals across the country- is forced to make difficult decisions like this for the greater good of the hospital. Keeping a labor and delivery unit open is harder in rural areas.
"The need for this change is unfortunate, yet the Board has a fiduciary responsibility for the health and well-being of our hospital in order to continue to serve our community," said Dale Leighty, Board Chairman, Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center.
"We did not take this decision lightly," said Andy Flemer, CEO/Administrator, Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center. "We sympathize with the expectant mothers in our community who were planning to give birth here at Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in the coming months and are committed to working with patients to find a high-level hospital in a nearby community to meet their delivery needs."
Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center OB Services, including the Labor and Delivery Department will continue to fully operate through April 30, 2025. The unit will stop taking new patients as of January 30, 2025. No other AVRMC services will be impacted by the closure of the Labor & Delivery Department. Andy Flemer, CEO, will be present at the La Junta City Council meeting Monday, February 4, 2025.
Additionally, all employees that are supporting our OB program in the hospital and in the FM/OB Clinic will have other jobs to transition to after April 30, 2025.
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