|
The Status of Maternity Units Access
Since 1997, 19 maternity units have closed their doors in Southeastern Pennsylvania
Closing Maternity Units
There is an alarming trend of diminishing birthing options for pregnant women in Southeastern Pennsylvania as maternity units (or obstetrics units) close. These closures have contributed to local spikes in occupancy rates and raised concerns around the capacity of remaining units to serve women safely. Women face an additional barrier because their provider may not accept their insurance plan.
|
| Are you concerned with the erosion of maternity services in Southeastern Pennsylvania? Let your state legislators know. Find your legislators by entering your zip code at www.congress.org. |
|
Please see the lists below showing where women can still give birth and which sites have closed. In the left column, hospital names in RED have closed the entire hospital, including their maternity department. Hospital names in DARK BLUE have closed their maternity units, but continue to provide other inpatient services.
|
MATERNITY UNIT CLOSED
MATERNITY UNIT AND HOSPITAL CLOSED
(Southeastern PA)
Bucks
Warminster (2000)
Chester
Brandywine Hospital (2008)
Delaware
Mercy Fitzgerald Maternity Unit (2003)
Montgomery
Elkins Park (2001)
Central Montgomery Medical Center (2009)
Mercy Suburban Hospital (June 30th, 2010)
Philadelphia
Temple East-Northeastern Hospital (2009)
Chestnut Hill Hospital Maternity Unit (2008)
Jeanes Hospital (2007)
Frankford Hospital (2006)
Parkview (2003)
Methodist (2002)
Mercy Philadelphia Hospital (2002)
Episcopal (2001)
Roxborough Memorial Hospital (1999)
City Avenue (1999)
Germantown (1998)
Nazareth Hospital (1998)
Medical College of
Pennsylvania (1997)
|
MATERNITY UNIT AND HOSPITAL STILL OPEN
(Southeastern PA)
Bucks
Doylestown Hospital
Grand View Hospital
Lower Bucks Hospital
St. Mary Medical Center
Chester
Chester County Hospital
Jennersville Regional Hospital
Paoli Hospital
Phoenixville Hospital
Delaware
Crozer-Chester Medical Center
Delaware County Memorial Hospital
Riddle Memorial Hospital
Montgomery
Abington Memorial Hospital
Bryn Mawr Hospital
Holy Redeemer Health System
Lankenau Hospital
Montgomery Hospital Medical Center
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center
Philadelphia
Albert Einstein Medical Center
Hahnemann University Hospital
Hospital of the University of
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Hospital
Temple University Hospital
Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital
|
|
BIRTH CENTERS OPEN
Bryn Mawr Birth
Center
Valley Birthplace &
Woman Care
|
Top of page
Maternity Units Capacity in Southeast Pennsylvania
The charts below show the capacity in area maternity units in 2007-2008 as compared to 1996-1997 for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties:
Philadelphia County
Hospital Obstetrics Capacity
Comparison of Capacity in 1997 and 2008
HOSPITAL
In Order of 2007-2008
Occupancy Rate
|
1996-1997
Occupancy Rate |
2007-2008
Occupancy Rate |
Change in Occupancy Rate |
1996-1997
Licensed Beds |
2007-2008 Licensed Beds |
1996-1997
Births |
2007-2008
Births |
Consequences |
Temple University Hospital |
47.3% |
98.9% |
+51.6 |
34 |
27 |
1,651 |
2,726 |
|
Albert Einstein Medical Center |
74.2% |
98.8% |
+24.6 |
32 |
40 |
1,441 |
2,916 |
|
Pennsylvania Hospital |
85% |
80.6% |
-4.4 |
66 |
72 |
3,946 |
5,167 |
|
Temple East-Northeastern Hospital |
29.2% |
68.7% |
+39.5 |
20 |
20 |
799 |
1,753 |
CLOSED
2009 |
Hahnemann University Hospital |
65.3% |
68.1% |
+2.8 |
20 |
25 |
1,223 |
2,009 |
|
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania |
65.5% |
67.2% |
+1.7 |
55 |
32 |
2,422 |
4,068 |
|
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital |
63.1% |
59.3% |
-3.8 |
60 |
31 |
3,122 |
2,154 |
|
Chestnut Hill HealthCare |
48.3% |
28.5% |
-19.8 |
24 |
29 |
1,192 |
1,006 |
CLOSED 2008 |
Jeanes Hospital |
37% |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
15 |
CLOSED |
601 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 2006 |
Frankford Hospital |
80.2% |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
25 |
CLOSED |
1,825 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 2006 |
Parkview Hospital |
47.1% |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
12 |
CLOSED |
916 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 2003 |
Methodist Hospital |
49.1% |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
No info |
CLOSED |
166 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 2002 |
Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia |
30.1% |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
10 |
CLOSED |
431 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 2002 |
Episcopal Hospital |
53.6% |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
26 |
CLOSED |
1,231 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 2001 |
Roxborough Memorial Hospital |
12.8% |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
15 |
CLOSED |
160 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 1999 |
City Avenue |
51.7% |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
25 |
CLOSED |
926 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 1999 |
Medical College of Pennsylvania |
70.9% |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
28 |
CLOSED |
1,002 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 1997 |
Germantown Hospital |
31.9% |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
21 |
CLOSED |
455 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 1998 |
Nazareth Hospital |
15.3% |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
20 |
CLOSED |
197 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 1998 |
Philadelphia County TOTAL |
|
|
|
508 |
276 |
23,706 |
21,799 |
13 Closures |
Montgomery County
Hospital Obstetrics Capacity
Comparison of Capacity in 1997 and 2008
HOSPITAL
In Order of 2007-2008
Occupancy Rate
|
1996-1997
Occupancy Rate |
2007-2008
Occupancy Rate |
Change in Occupancy Rate |
1996-1997
Licensed Beds |
2007-2009
Licensed Beds |
1996-1997
Births |
2007-2008
Births |
Consequences |
Holy Redeemer Health System |
50.2% |
83% |
+32.8 |
33 |
30 |
1,703 |
3,006 |
|
Abington Memorial Hospital |
65.3% |
58.8 % |
-6.5 |
42 |
69 |
3,289 |
5,282 |
|
Lankenau Hospital |
61.4% |
54.7 % |
-6.7 |
25 |
39 |
1,683 |
2,217 |
|
Bryn Mawr Hospital |
64.3% |
54.3% |
-10 |
28 |
31 |
1,991 |
1,883 |
|
Montgomery Hospital Medical Center |
44.3% |
49% |
+4.7 |
11 |
11 |
630 |
690 |
|
Mercy Suburban Hospital |
44.9% |
39.7% |
-5.2 |
18 |
12 |
591 |
673 |
CLOSED
2010 |
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center |
20.9% |
27.1% |
+6.2 |
55 |
22 |
812 |
758 |
|
Central Montgomery Medical Center |
41.2% |
24.7% |
-16.2 |
14 |
14 |
762 |
369 |
CLOSED 2009 |
Elkins Park |
67.7% |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
27 |
CLOSED |
1,260 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 2001 |
Montgomery County TOTAL |
|
|
|
253 |
228 |
12,721 |
14,878 |
3 Closures |
Bucks County
Hospital Obstetrics Capacity
Comparison of Capacity in 1997 and 2008
| HOSPITAL
In Order of 2007-2008
Occupancy Rate |
1996-1997
Occupancy Rate |
2007-2008
Occupancy Rate |
Change in Occupancy Rate |
1996-1997
Licensed Beds |
2007-2008
Licensed Beds |
1996-1997
Births |
2007-2008
Births |
Consequences |
St. Mary Medical Center |
47.1 |
68.1% |
+21 |
24 |
24 |
1,341 |
1,623 |
|
Lower Bucks Hospital |
60.5% |
57.1% |
-3.4 |
17 |
17 |
1,369 |
1,112 |
|
Doylestown Hospital |
58.8% |
47.3% |
-11.5 |
12 |
24 |
1,042 |
1,399 |
|
Grand View Hospital |
36.5% |
36.1% |
-0.4 |
25 |
27 |
1,132 |
1,157 |
|
Warminster |
36.1% |
CLOSED |
|
12 |
CLOSED |
508 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 2000 |
Bucks County TOTAL |
|
|
|
90 |
92 |
5,392 |
5,291 |
1 Closure |
Delaware County
Hospital Obstetrics Capacity
Comparison of Capacity in 1997 and 2008
HOSPITAL
In Order of 2007-2008
Occupancy Rate
|
1996-1997
Occupancy Rate |
2007-2008
Occupancy Rate |
Change in Occupancy Rate |
1996-1997
Licensed Beds |
2007-2008
Licensed Beds |
1996-1997
Births |
2007-2008
Births |
Consequences |
Delaware County Memorial Hospital |
60.5% |
92.7% |
+32.2 |
24 |
17 |
1,055 |
1,690 |
|
Crozer-Chester Medical Center |
58.6% |
78.3% |
+19.7 |
40 |
36 |
2,516 |
2,086 |
|
Riddle Memorial Hospital |
39.4% |
44.3% |
+4.9 |
26 |
22 |
867 |
937 |
|
Mercy Fitzgerald |
51.9% |
CLOSED |
|
20 |
CLOSED |
1,374 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED 2003 |
Delaware County TOTAL |
|
|
|
110 |
75 |
5,812 |
4,712 |
1 Closure |
Chester County
Hospital Obstetrics Capacity
Comparison of Capacity in 1997 and 2008
HOSPITAL
In Order of 2007-2008
Occupancy Rate
|
1996-1997
Occupancy Rate |
2007-2008
Occupancy Rate |
Change in Occupancy Rate |
1996-1997
Licensed Beds |
2007-2008
Licensed Beds |
1996-1997
Births |
2007-2008
Births |
Consequences |
Chester County Hospital |
51.6% |
74.5% |
+22.9 |
27 |
25 |
2,028 |
2,523 |
|
Paoli Hospital |
41.6% |
60.8% |
+19.2 |
11 |
26 |
695 |
2,189 |
|
Phoenixville Hospital |
44% |
33.5% |
-10.5 |
21 |
20 |
1,203 |
967 |
|
Jennersville Regional Hospital |
No info |
23.6% |
No info |
No info |
11 |
No info |
412 |
|
Brandywine Hospital |
36.4% |
13.4% |
-23 |
12 |
10 |
686 |
243 |
CLOSED 2008 |
Chester County TOTAL |
|
|
|
71 |
92 |
4,612 |
6,334 |
1 Closure |
Data Source: PA Department of Health, Bureau of Health Statistics
- 1996-1997 Licensed Beds and Occupancy Rates from Annual Hospital Questionnaire, Report 2A. Online PDF
- 1996-1997 Births: Annual Hospital Questionnaire, Report 1A. Online PDF
- 2006-2007Licensed Beds and Occupancy Rates, Annual Hospital Questionnaire, Report 2A. Online PDF
- 2006-2007 Births: Annual Hospital Questionnaire, Report 1A. Online PDF
|
Capacity is an area of concern for practitioners and families. The literature, discussed briefly below, recommends a capacity around 75% and, in 2007-2008, half of the remaining maternity units in Philadelphia were operating above this capacity; two at about 99% (Table 13).
Furthermore, anecdotal evidence suggests that practitioners and hospital staff in maternity units are overwhelmed and patients are frustrated about overcrowded facilities and traveling further distances to receive care.
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health commissioned a Drexel University report, "Obstetric Care for Philadelphia Residents: 1997-2004." The following is an excerpt:
Individual hospitals make their own determinations as to what occupancy level they are comfortable with, taking into account fiscal pressures, risk, and provider workload. Several states and organizations have published “ideal” obstetric occupancy rates, sometimes varying for urban and rural areas or small vs. large hospitals.
Table 13:
Industry Recommendations for Obstetric Unit Occupancy Rate
(see citations below) |
Source |
Recommendation for obstetric occupancy |
NY State Department of Health |
75% in an urban area |
Virginia (Certificate of Need) |
80% |
Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board |
75% for hospitals with 11-25 beds
78% for hospitals with 26 or more beds |
Department of Defense |
70% |
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology |
75% |
NICU occupancy target |
75% |
Table 13 citations:
New York State Department of Health: Acute Care Facilities
Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board (03/21/2005)
Department of Defense Planning Criteria for Health Facilities
"Strategies for Cutting Hospital Beds: The impact on patient services"
Excerpt courtesy of report author:
Jennifer Kolker, MPH
Assistant Professor
Drexel University School of Public Health Department of Health Management and Policy
Please visit our Childbirth Crisis News page to read recent articles or Take Action on important issues!
Last Updated August 2010 |
|
