In Coos Bay, Oregon, local mothers are expressing deep concerns following the announcement by Bay Area Hospital (BAH) that it will discontinue its Management of Maternity Services (MOMS) program, including the vital post-partum at-home visits, beginning February 9.
For first-time mother Taryn Summers, the news was disheartening. “It makes me really sad to hear that,” Summers said. “You can read all the things online, you can do all the research, you can be in support groups online, but having somebody come and be there in person to help you after you leave the hospital is so beneficial and so helpful.”
Adrianne O’Donnell, a mother who relied on the MOMS program, echoed similar sentiments. O’Donnell described her pregnancy as difficult, compounded by a lack of local family support. The in-home visits, she said, were crucial for her emotional well-being. “They helped me through all aspects of all emotions, not just post-partum depression, but the joy you feel, the confusion with your body going back to normal,” she explained. “It’s just scary to think that no new or veteran mom is going to have anyone to reach out to, locally.”
The decision to end the program stems from the hospital’s financial challenges, according to CEO Brian Moore. He explained that the hospital was not receiving adequate reimbursement for the post-partum visits, making it one of the more expensive services to maintain. “That was probably one of the larger aspects driving expense where we weren’t getting reimbursement, so that was the service that we weren’t able to continue,” Moore said.
Despite the cuts, BAH will still offer certain aspects of maternity support, such as childbirth classes, lactation consultations, and post-discharge planning. The hospital is also collaborating with county agencies and other local organizations to explore alternative ways to support new mothers and families in Coos County, Moore added.
In addition to the changes in maternity services, the hospital will close 38 unfilled positions as part of its cost-cutting measures. Moore assured that this would not affect current employees. However, the hospital will also eliminate 10 positions, most of them non-clinical. “Everybody here at the hospital is important, but these 10 positions are stepped back from those direct patient care roles,” Moore explained.
Another significant change includes the closure of the Bright Beginnings Learning Center, the hospital’s childcare program, which will also cease operations on February 28. Moore emphasized that the hospital is working closely with parents and staff to find alternate childcare solutions and that impacted families have already been notified.
The hospital’s decision to make these cuts is not linked to its recent partnership with Quorum Health, Moore clarified, but is part of a broader effort to strengthen BAH’s financial position. He also noted that further cuts may be necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of the hospital.