The following is the release from Unity Point Health:
Health care is rapidly changing across the country, especially in rural communities and Marshalltown is no exception. The leadership team at UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown is reimagining how health care will look in the future. This means continually balancing the needs of the community along with a plan to remain sustainable for the long-term. To be viable, there must be adequate demand for these services and the population to support them.
Over the last several months, UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown has worked with nationally known health care consultants to carefully assess and evaluate data around the services that are needed and supported in the community. This data helped guide an intentional redesign of UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown. The health care needs of Marshalltown have changed over the years, and health care organizations need to adapt offerings around what the community actually uses and needs.
Based on changing community need, patient preference and a provider shortage, UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown will close the obstetrics unit and Women’s Health Clinic on Monday, September 30. Women’s, pediatric and infant care will still be offered within UnityPoint Health clinics in Marshalltown, Tama/Toledo, State Center and Conrad. This is the last and final service that will be closing for the foreseeable future.
For complete transparency, there simply aren’t enough women choosing to deliver locally. Over the last six years, there has been a 45% decrease in the number of births at UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown and, in March, the hospital recorded the lowest number of deliveries (18) in its history. It’s clear OB/GYN patients are already selecting Ames and Des Moines for their care.
The UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown Emergency Department doctors are trained to care for women and infants in emergency situations, including labor and delivery and, if needed, the EMS team can quickly transport patients to a higher level of care.
Unfortunately, the OB/GYN closure will impact some team members. Human Resources is assisting these employees, as there are multiple patient care employment opportunities available within UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown and through its affiliates, including Waterloo, Grinnell and Des Moines.
While this is believed to be the last and final service to close in Marshalltown for the foreseeable future, UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown continues to evaluate how it can best serve this community, including the opportunity to potentially consolidate on an expanded south campus. However, planning is still in process, and the organization is committed to providing updates as decisions are made.
Decisions such as this are very difficult but necessary to continue Marshalltown on a path to sustainability, while meeting the demands and needs of the community. UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown is committed to embracing this transformational journey, addressing tough issues head-on and building a health care model the community supports. In addition, the organization is committed to transparency as more details become available.
