OBSERVER Photo

Since October, Brooks-TLC Hospital System has been without an open maternity ward. That has meant pregnant women in the northern end of Chautauqua County have had to go elsewhere to have their babies. An employee of the county’s Public Health Department discussed some of the challenges the families have had to face.

“Transportation to and from Buffalo has been difficult for many – no vehicle or vehicle in poor repair in the winter, cost of gas and parking,” said Janelle C. Hartloff, a registered nurse home visitor for maternal/infant health and breastfeeding support.

Relationships can be a challenge as well. “Some mothers are feeling very separated from their family and support persons or their other children during this very special time. There’s also fear related to lack of relationship with the delivering provider, if they have received their prenatal care locally there is then a loss of continuity of care through the labor and delivery phase,” she said.

Christine Schuyler, director of the Chautauqua County Department of Health & Human Services, permitted Hartloff to discuss some of the things she has observed in her position, but added that Hartloff’s comments should not be taken as to whether there should or should not be a maternity ward at Brooks-TLC Hospital.

Schuyler herself declined to comment on whether she believes there should be a birthing unit in the Dunkirk region, either at the current facility or if a new hospital is built. “As the local health department, we’re not in any position of authority to comment on the services offered at a particular hospital,” she said.

On Sept. 30, Brooks-TLC issued a news release saying the hospital was “significantly strained” following a New York state mandate that went into effect that week that required health-care staff to have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Our pre-existing staffing concerns in support services and OB, as well as a national nursing shortage, are further compounded by the vaccine mandate,” said Mary LaRowe, president and chief executive officer at Brooks-TLC. “We have been able to offset immediate capacity restraints affecting each department to keep support services open. However, our OB department is significantly strained by a combination of staffing challenges along with the mandate. Contingency planning for OB services is ongoing and in collaboration with our partners in Buffalo, particularly Oishei Children’s and with our local obstetrics and gynecological service providers.”

A week later the hospital issued another news release, saying births will not take place in the obstetrics unit as the temporary contingency plan addresses patients arriving to the Emergency Department in active labor or where delivery is imminent.

“The remaining OB staff are working to complement (emergency department) staff in emergent delivery situations,” LaRowe said on Oct. 8. “Our on-call providers and pediatricians are available for consultations and to support emergent OB situations as they arise.”

Hartloff didn’t have numbers but it appeared families who would have normally gone to Brooks-TLC have been traveling north to Mercy and Oishei in Erie County, and also out of the state to Pennsylvania to deliver at St. Vincent’s Family Birthing Center or OB Center Magee-Womens at UPMC Hamot. Some women stay in the county and use the OB/GYN care and deliver at UPMC Chautauqua in Jamestown.

Currently, Brooks-TLC Hospital System is eyeing a new facility on Route 20 in Fredonia. The OBSERVER reported back in March, that should the new facility get built – the plan has been delayed a number of times – it may come without a birthing unit due to staffing challenges and the low number of births that took place in Dunkirk previously.

“We’ve been trying to recruit, which has been extremely difficult,” LaRowe said. “It’s not the ideal situation.”

Schuyler did say the county is currently in the process of gathering data for the state Department of Health’s Community Health Assessment, which may help health officials understand the need. “All of the hospitals in the county, including Brooks/TLC, partner with us on this assessment and the subsequent Community Health Improvement Plan. I fully expect that improving maternal child health will continue to be a designated priority area for Chautauqua County,” she said.