Providence to cease labor and delivery services at Seaside hospital

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Amid a “historic reset” for Oregon’s health care landscape, Providence will soon cease inpatient obstetric and newborn care services at one of its facilities along the coast.

On Tuesday, the health system announced that Providence Seaside Hospital will no longer offer “labor and delivery, well-newborn inpatient care, and outpatient prenatal/surgical gynecologic care with an OB/GYN physician” starting on Oct. 4.

According to the hospital’s Chief Administrator Officer, Rebecca Coplin and the company’s Women & Children’s Services Executive Director, Kristine Bell, the decision comes at a challenging time for health care providers statewide.

“Hospitals across the state, including Providence, are grappling with the reality that the cost of care continues to outpace reimbursement — driven by inflation, workforce shortages, and rising supply costs,” Coplin and Bell wrote. “We find ourselves at a point where we must take steps to ensure we can continue to provide high-quality care and pay our caregivers competitive wages.”

The company has undergone two phases of layoffs in the past few months, with the latest job cuts impacting 128 employees. Earlier in January, the Oregon Health Authority determined its Seaside facility — as well as the Portland medical center — had violated laws meant to establish staffing levels within several departments.

Providence leaders revealed that the Seaside hospital has seen a “significant decline” in delivery volumes, with 55 recorded in 2023 and 66 recorded last year. They also noted that the facility’s last remaining OB/GYN physician retired on Aug. 1, despite two years of attempts to find a replacement for the role.

Providence has also struggled to meet Level 1 maternity requirements, according to the health system. Leadership said the closure of OB/GYN services in Seaside will allow them to “achieve excellence” in its remaining services.

The Columbia Memorial Hospital and Astoria Birthing Center, which Providence noted are about 30 minutes away, will continue offering services for patients in the area.

The Oregon Nurses Association released the following statement about the closure:

“It’s heartbreaking to see Providence close Seaside’s birth center. For nearly 50 years, nurses and healthcare professionals have been here to help newborns draw their first breath and provide trusted care before and after birth for families on the Oregon Coast. This abrupt closure sets our community up for failure and abandons expectant parents at one of the most important and vulnerable times of their lives.

“Minutes matter for parents and newborns. Providence is forcing families to travel more than 30 minutes to Astoria or more than 75 minutes to Tillamook just to deliver babies.

“This closure is devastating for young families but it will negatively affect everyone in our community. With no other options, moms will be sent to the ER leading to longer waits for everyone. This will affect people suffering from heart attacks and broken bones to COVID and car crashes.

“Providence’s pattern of cuts will harm caregivers and the health and safety of communities up and down the coast; leaving us all with fewer choices, longer waits and worse healthcare.”