photo by Robert Lintott

From the office of Councilmember Henderson:

“The following is a statement from Councilmember Henderson on the closure of MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s Postpartum Maternity Unit:

“I am deeply concerned about MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s decision to close one of its two postpartum maternity units later this month, which will result in an overall reduction of available beds. Although hospital leadership has cited a lower patient census as the reasoning, Washington Hospital Center is still delivering more than a third of babies born in the District. The timing is especially unfortunate given that summer is a peak time for births. Furthermore, given its comprehensive antepartum care and its Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Washington Hospital Center is a vital lifeline for patients and providers managing high-risk pregnancies and preterm births across the region. I worry what a reduction in maternity beds will mean for women who need this level of critical care before and immediately after their child is born. Will they be prematurely discharged due to space constraints? Will they be forced to travel to hospitals further away? I fear that this decision will result in more patients being turned away or having no choice but to deliver in emergency rooms, which carries a higher risk of complications. (more…)