By Elaina James
Photo courtesy of Cape Fear Valley Health
Elaina James
When expecting mother Kim Dresser attended her final check up with her obstetrician, just weeks away from her due date, she received unexpected news. Her induction date would have to be rescheduled to an earlier date because the very unit where she would deliver was about to close.
For many expectant mothers, where they choose to deliver is significant. In rural N.C, however, options are few and far between.
Last month, Betsy Johnson Hospital closed its labor and delivery unit. As the only hospital in Harnett County to offer these services, the closure has contributed to a “maternity desert,” leaving women to travel upwards of 45 minutes to the nearest hospital, or risk delivering in another hospital’s emergency room.
According to March of Dimes, a maternal health advocacy nonprofit that tracks data across government agencies, maternity deserts impact 21 percent of counties in the state, leaving 13 percent of N.C. women lacking access to a hospital within 30 minutes.
Dr. Michael Jones, a member of the board of trustees at Cape Fear Valley Health System, who oversees Betsy Johnson, says the demand for maternity services was a factor in the decision to close the unit. Prior to the closure, the unit had about 35 deliveries a month, approximately one a day.
Dr. Michael Jones
“Larger, busier labor and delivery units offer 24 hour anesthesia and house obstetricians and surgeons and, and NICU availability that’s not available at smaller hospitals. And I think that many of today’s patients are preferring to be delivered at a institution that is able to offer a variety of services.”
Elaina James
Dr. Jones says recruiting obstetricians posed a challenge, as they were required to live within 15 minutes of the hospital. This, combined with potential recruits being trained at and preferring institutions with more resources, has made recruiting difficult.
According to a study published in the Journal of Rural Health by the Hospital Corporation of America, labor and delivery units closures in rural North Carolina disproportionately affect women on Medicaid, and Betys Johnson is no exception.
Dr. Jones says keeping the unit isn’t financially feasible which has created challenges compensating staff.
Living with limited access to maternity care not only brings additional stress to the already nerve-wracking experience of bringing a life into the world, but it can have dangerous and damaging consequences.
Dresser says she learned this the hard way.
Kim Dresser
“I had a miscarriage in December of 2022. And, you know, we’re it was the middle of the night and we had, you know, limited options of where to go. So we ended up going to central Harnett and Lillington and went to the ER, and they can do hardly anything for me except manage the pain because they don’t have labor and delivery. So there was no OBs or anything.”
Elaina James
Mackenzie Nazal, delivered her first baby, Maverick, at Betsy Johnson, and says she had a positive experience. She is now pregnant with her second child, and given the closure, she says she now has to receive care at an overcrowded hospital and experiences long wait times.
Betsy Johnson obstetrics and gynecology prenatal and post-partum clinic will remain open. Nazal has considered returning to her previous OB, however, this too has its challenges.
Mackenzie Nazal
“I could go back to that OB and continue care with them up until 37 weeks, but then I’d have to switch to one that could actually deliver me somewhere… I don’t really want to risk having to switch doctors at the same week where I gave birth with him.”
Elaina James
I’m Elaina James, reporting.
