WellSpan Health today announced plans to consolidate its birthing services in Franklin County, transitioning WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital’s labor, delivery and inpatient pediatric services to WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital.
The decision, which was approved by both the WellSpan Summit and WellSpan Health boards of directors, will be effective Sept. 18, 2020.
The transition will enable all Franklin County delivering mothers and newborns to have enhanced access to specialized care, including WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital’s Level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
“Our focus is on meeting the needs of delivering mothers and newborns in Franklin County. We’re carefully planning the transition to ensure it will be smooth for our patients and honor their birth plans,” said Dr. Angelique Ridore, WellSpan OB/GYN. “Expectant mothers will continue to receive care from many of the same providers they know and trust from our WellSpan OB/GYN practice locations.”
Sherri Stahl, senior vice president of WellSpan Health, noted that patient trends indicate more newborns need specialized care across the county. Consolidating birthing services in one location where comprehensive specialty care is available, if needed, reduces the stress of separating a mother from her newborn child, and eliminates the need to transport a baby to another hospital when minutes and seconds count.
“This decision is consistent with our philosophy of providing patients with the right care at the right time and in the right place,” Stahl said.
The NICU at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital opened in 2016 with leading-edge technology and specialized providers to treat babies born at 32 weeks gestation or those with unexpected medical complications.
WellSpan will work with the 23 impacted staff members at the WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital birthing unit to identify other employment opportunities within the health system, including at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital.
“We certainly recognize the talent and skills of that team,” Stahl said. “We value them and will work to keep them here at WellSpan so that patients in Franklin County will continue to be touched by their caring hands and hearts.”
Pediatric services for testing, imaging, outpatient surgery and emergency services will continue to be offered at WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital following the transition.
Expectant mothers with questions are encouraged to contact 1-800-713-7720 or their provider’s office.
For information on birthing services at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital, visit WellSpan.org/CHMaternity.