By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Expectant mothers in St. John the Baptist Parish and some surrounding regions will soon have to venture outside the immediate area to find obstetrical care as River Parishes Hospital announced this week the discontinuation of those services.

Interim Hospital CEO Gerald A. Fornoff said in a release that the services will end Dec. 31. He said a decline in the number of deliveries, which has decreased to an average of one per day, was the leading factor in the decision. He said the change will not impact other core services provided by the LaPlace hospital.

“River Parishes Hospital has always taken pride in providing mothers and their newborns with quality medical and nursing care,” Fornoff said in a statement. “We will work with our OB physicians at the hospital to ensure a smooth transition for their patients.”

River Parishes Hospital is the only facility in the River Parishes currently offering labor and delivery services. The next closest hospital is Ochsner Medical Center in Kenner. Some OB/GYN physicians in the area say the move to end obstetrical services will be a major impact to the region.

Dr. John McCrossen of Rue de Santé Women’s Center, a women’s healthcare clinic in LaPlace that regularly works with River Parishes Hospital, said the decision to end the services was expected but added that the timing was a surprise.

“We have had very little communication about it,” McCrossen said. “No one thought it would be this soon.”

McCrossen said economics likely played a role in the decision to cut services.

He said hospitals statewide are facing budget cuts on a state and federal level, especially in Medicaid, which is often used for obstetrical care.

“About 70 percent of patients in Louisiana are on Medicaid for obstetrics,” McCrossen said. “Some of the funding for that is going to be gone.”

McCrossen said his real concern is with the patients. Many will now have to travel longer distances for labor and delivery care.

“Most of our patients live nearby,” he said. “All of our staff is from here, and we will have to travel along with our patients.”

In addition to those patients in LaPlace and St. John Parish, McCrossen said a high percentage of the clinic’s patients are coming from Lutcher, Gramercy and Convent in St. James Parish.

“Kenner is a long drive out for these patients, McCrossen said. “It increases the risk they will be facing.”

McCrossen said the women’s center is currently evaluating other hospitals nearby to determine which would be the best to satisfy the clinic’s patients’ needs. He said clinic physicians have met with East Jefferson General Hospital, Ochsner Medical in Kenner and Tulane-Lakeside Hospital in Metairie.

He also said the clinic has been in talks with St. James Parish Hospital to see if there is a possibility that labor and delivery could be brought in there.

“We are in the very early stages of talks with St. James,” McCrossen said. “We want this to be as smooth as possible for all of our patients.”

River Parishes Hospital Marketing Director Tammy Waltz said the hospital has a transition plan in place for employees impacted by the move.

She said they would be given priority consideration for vacant positions at RPH, at Teche Regional Medical Center, a sister facility in Morgan City, and with Ochsner Medical Center in Kenner.