RRH To Reopen Labor And Delivery in December

After suspending labor and delivery services in March 2024, Ridgecrest Regional Hospital is announcing that this critical component of community healthcare will return in December 2024. 

“Having to suspend services that cater to pregnant mothers and their babies was the most difficult decision of my career” said CEO Jim Suver. “I am ecstatic to announce that we get to resume services after a nine-month absence.”

Inadequate reimbursements, a nationwide shortage of obstetricians and other practitioners, and other changing trends in healthcare have created “maternity deserts” all over our country — especially in rural communities. 

“We began engaging our government partners and elected officials in 2021, at a time when we were subsidizing services by about $5 million a year,” said Suver. The hospital has been awarded a government contract through the Department of the Navy that enables RRH to provide stand-by medical services — including labor and delivery — for the next 12 months. Questions about the contract can be emailed to nawcwd-pao@navy.mil.

“While we are celebrating this victory with enthusiasm, we know that the financial solution is only short-term. As a hospital, and as a community, we will continue to engage our elected officials to ensure that long-term solutions for sustainable healthcare are identified and implemented.”

“I am so grateful that we will once again be able to provide the safe, effective care our mothers and babies require,” said Gaylon Palmer, director of maternal-child services. “Resuming full-time service reduces the risk of our mothers delivering during transportation, our ability to mitigate unexpected complications, and avoiding the dire consequences of limited services.”

Palmer noted that the program is starting from the ground up. “We want to help everyone we can, but we will be careful in the consulting process to ensure that every patient finds the right care — whether that means here at RRH or with a specialist for high-risk pregnancies.
“One of our priorities as we move through the recruitment process is hiring staff who have the highest standards of care and offer an empathetic bedside manner. Above all we will not do anything that sacrifices patient care.”

Palmer also reminded expectant mothers that the best way to ensure positive outcomes for mother and baby is to seek early, regular prenatal care.
“Just the thought of being able to help our patients grow their families again is so rewarding,” said Palmer. “Helping people have the best possible start in life is why I have spent 35 of my 50 years in health care in women's health.”

“I want to thank everyone in our community for their patience and understanding,” said Suver. “And I also want to thank our policymakers who have taken up the cause to ensure that our most vulnerable patients — especially those living in remote areas, will be able to count on access to affordable, quality, viable care.”

He added that RRH would not have been able to resume service without the support of our community, government, military, and elected partners. “We have had incredible support from so many organizations and individuals. Our community has been at risk, not having a nearby facility that offers labor and delivery services.”

During the suspension of labor and delivery, RRH was able to manage imminent deliveries — each of which had positive outcomes. 
“We have more work to do if we are going to have a permanent solution. Our hospital will continue to ensure that our community retains the essential care required. And we hope you will join us in reminding our policy-makers that sustainable services to our most vulnerable patients, including mothers and babies, is essential and must remain a priority in healthcare.”

RRH is in the process of putting together a team of navigators who can help women who are planning to have a baby or are in the early stages of pregnancy, to reestablish care locally.

For more information about the Labor & Delivery service at RRH, please visit www.rrh.org/baby. For inquiries about Women's Health services, contact the team at WomensHealth@rrh.org and inquiries@rrh.org. If you are a healthcare professional looking to join the L&D team at RRH, please email your CV to recruiter@rrh.org