Press release
Warsaw, N.Y., April 26, 2023 – Wyoming County Community Health System (WCCHS) today announced a change to its obstetrics program. According to David Kobis, Chief Executive Officer, the number of births at WCCHS has declined for many years and now is at the point where maintaining a rural Obstetrics (OB) program in the area presents quality of care and unsustainable financial challenges for Wyoming County.
After many months of analysis and numerous discussions with the Hospital Board, WCCHS is announcing the suspension of its Maternal/OB program effective June 1, 2023. The hospital made this difficult decision for several reasons: the health and wellbeing of residents and the scarcity of maternal health and pediatric providers being the most prominent. Wyoming County is not alone – currently there are hundreds of rural hospitals facing these same challenges both in New York, and across the country.
As it became clear that this action was necessary, WCCHS reached out to United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), a Rochester Regional Health facility in Batavia, to provide continuity of Maternal Health/OB services as close to Warsaw and Wyoming County as possible.
David Kobis, CEO of Wyoming County Community Health System commented, “These are extraordinary and unprecedented times in healthcare that have forced us to make tough decisions. As we make changes to our services, WCCHS remains committed to ensuring its patients and community receive ready access to high quality care throughout our region by leveraging our community partners.”
UMMC is well positioned to work with WCCHS as it currently operates a rural OB office in Warsaw, less than a mile from WCCHS. Staffed with more than five OB and specialist physicians and four midwives, UMMC provides high quality OB services to Warsaw and Wyoming County. UMMC, just 25 miles away, has more than enough obstetrical capacity to assume all of WCCHS’ annual deliveries. Further, UMMC will ensure that patients’ pre-natal and post-natal care remains at WCCHS as much as possible following this transition.
This decision will allow WCCHS to continue its focus on creating stability in times of unprecedented transition in healthcare.
WCCHS OB patients with questions about this transition of OB care to UMMC should call (585) 786-8940, Ext. 4543.
Dan Ireland, President of United Memorial Medical Center commented “United Memorial Medical Center and the entire Rochester Regional Health system is committed to ensuring that the women of Wyoming County and the surrounding communities have ready access to the services that they need. We’re proud of our record as a Baby-Friendly designated birth facility and it has been our experience that through close partnership with existing healthcare systems and providers we can sustain high quality, continuous access to the care our communities need. We are pleased to work with WCCHS and Wyoming County during this transition.”
Prior to this announcement, WCCHS reached out to UMMC to coordinate a smooth transition once this change goes into effect. It is vitally important that the labor and delivery patients seen at WCCHS continue to receive high-quality care they need and deserve, close to home. We take pride in being good partners with other health care organizations and were willing to help answer the call when this need arose.
What Do Patients Need to Know Today?
Currently, UMMC offers OB care locally at its Warsaw office located at 121 S. Main St., #1, Warsaw, NY 14569. Patients seeking OB care during this transition period can reach out to that office to schedule an appointment by calling (585) 786-8350. WCCHS and UMMC will work closely with the provider teams to ensure continuity of care during this time.
What is UMMC Doing to Improve Access to OB Care in Warsaw?
UMMC intends to move its current office to the WCCHS main campus later in 2023. The office will also be expanding services to five days a week and adding staff to take on additional patients in the near future. As a result of these changes, women of all ages from adolescence through pregnancy and menopause will be able to continue to receive obstetrical care close to WCCHS. Pregnant women can also continue their routine check-ups and diagnostics in Warsaw, close to home, right up until the time of their delivery.
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About Wyoming County Community Health System
Wyoming County Community Health System (WCCHS) has served Wyoming County and the surrounding areas for more than 110 years and continues its commitment of providing outstanding healthcare services for our rural community. WCCHS is a full service health system based in Warsaw, NY comprised of a 62‑bed acute-care hospital, a 138 bed Skilled Nursing Facility, and more than 10 primary and specialty care physician clinics. The hospital provides 24-hour emergency care as well as a range of services, including family and internal medicine, orthopedics and general surgery, gastroenterology, podiatry, cardiology, inpatient mental health, neurology, endocrinology, dialysis, and a variety of other specialty services. WCCHS has outpatient clinics in Arcade, Attica, Mt. Morris, Perry, and Warsaw, NY.
About United Memorial Medical Center
United Memorial has been serving residents of Genesee County and surrounding rural communities since its inception as Batavia Hospital in 1902. Today, United Memorial Medical Center, a Rochester Regional Health facility, represents more than 900 employees, all committed to providing patients with personalized, comprehensive, and state-of-the-art care. The 131-bed facility includes a state-of-the-art surgical department, a wound care center, urgent care, maternity services, and a Joint Replacement Center of Excellence – along with a number of primary and specialty physician offices