Online Forum On Suspension Of Baby Deliveries At Putnam Hospital

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — As of next week, there won't be any doctors delivering babies at Putnam Hospital, and Nuvance Health will hold an online community forum Thursday to discuss the problem.

The hospital received formal notification in January that the obstetrics department's physicians, all affiliated with CareMount, would leave effective March 1.

"Nuvance Health is dedicated to continuing to provide Labor & Delivery services at Putnam Hospital, and this suspension will be temporary," Putnam Hospital President Dr. Mark Hirko told Patch in a statement Wednesday. "Affected staff have been notified, and there is no planned reduction in force as a result of this suspension. We are working closely with the NYS Department of Health on the approval of these plans at which point we will be communicating with all affected patients and the community."

Meanwhile, because it is the sole provider of labor and delivery physician services, CareMount’s decision means that Putnam Hospital must temporarily suspend those services, he said. "Nuvance Health and Putnam Hospital are committed to supporting the transition of all patients who will need to change their plans."

Community members expressed concern about traveling long distances, especially in inclement winter weather, at a "Save Putnam County’s Women and Children’s Services" town hall meeting Tuesday, according to the New York State Nurses Association.

"Since we opened at our current location in 1999, we have taught our community about self-care, childbirth, breastfeeding, and infant care. We have worked in association with our Health Department to ensure the health and well-being of Putnam's newest families. And now, our beloved birth center is at risk. We need the community to become aware and involved," said Labor and delivery nurse Eileen Rossi, RN.

According to New York State's health database,the number of deliveries at the hospital has been declining.

The maternity ward now sees about one newborn a day: In the past two years, 745 babies were born at the hospital, according to the NYSNA.

"Having to watch this service to our neighbors be suspended is a tremendous loss for us as nurses and for this community that has relied on us to provide OB care," Lina Fuschetto, RN said. "As a nurse who worked at a larger institution before coming to the birthing center, I quickly came to realize how amazing the staff was and how our patients received such individualized and family-centered care. We treat our patients like they are our family members. And now our community will be forced to go to those larger institutions where they will no longer receive that specialized care that they receive here. We will do everything we can and keep spreading the word to save these services."

The online forum from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday will be an online livestream video.

A question-and-answer period will follow the presentation. Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance by emailing askputnamhospital@nuvancehealth.org or calling (845) 230-4773 and leaving name and phone number.

The link to join the virtual forum is: https://nuvancehealth.zoom.us/j/95361552585?pwd=dTZKSDdrUDNqOW81T2JxM09mNVdyUT09

The event will also stream at facebook.com/putnamhospital.

The recorded session and a copy of the digital presentation will be accessible on the website following the event.