Heritage to close obstetrics department

Heritage Medical Center announced Wednesday that it intends to close its obstetrics department due to an insufficient volume of patients, according to CEO Dan Buckner.

"Myself, my board of trustees and the corporation (Community Health Systems) have been debating this decision for many months and the official decision was made, frankly, today," Buckner said. "Our decision (to close the OB) was a tough decision for the hospital, and for me personally, but the OB wasn't in demand."

Since moving to its new location on U.S. 231 North, the facility has continued to experience "insufficient obstetrics volume" necessary to keep the department open, according to a press release hand delivered to the Times-Gazette by Buckner Wednesday.

"Virtually every other department in the hospital has seen increased utilization in recent years, but our OB volumes continue to stagnate," Buckner said in the release. "It is regrettable that we have come to this, but our Board of Trustees and management feel that as stewards of the hospital, this decision has to be made to ensure the continued growth and vitality of Heritage."

When asked if there were plans to close the department when the hospital moved to its new location in July, Buckner said, "The relocation of the hospital, with or without the OB (department) was not a consideration of moving the hospital."

Buckner and hospital officials have begun the process of filing a Certificate of Need, to receive approval to close the department, with the state. Buckner said he anticipates it taking several months before the process is complete.

Local doctor Lana Beavers, who Buckner said was delivering 95 percent of the hospital's babies, gave the hospital notice in June of her decision to stop delivering babies. In a previous Times-Gazette interview, Beavers said her decision came about due to her age and the location of the new building.

Dr. Jan Crean and Dr. Dennis Wieck, the two OB/GYNs formerly employed by the hospital, told the Times-Gazette in August that their contracts with the hospital's OB department were being terminated.

According to the press release, "The number of babies born at Heritage (and its former location) averaged only 16 births per month in 2007, down from 20 per month in 2005."

Buckner, who called the insufficient OB volume an "industry-wide issue," said they were projecting even fewer births to take place at Heritage in 2008. He also said that more than 70 percent of Bedford County women are currently choosing to have their babies in other counties.

"In 2007, 43 (women had babies) and we averaged 16," he said. "Most elected to go elsewhere."

Since there are no OB doctors working at Heritage Medical Center, Buckner said the hospital has "established a transfer care agreement with Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro."

Anyone who comes to Heritage Medical Center will be seen by emergency room physicians, and in circumstances outside of emergencies, patients will be transferred to Murfreesboro for deliveries.

Heritage Medical Center will continue to offer both inpatient and outpatient gynecological surgery services through Dr. Beavers.

"Dr. Beavers is a fantastic physician and I am happy to be associated with her," Buckner said.

Buckner said labor and delivery employees at Heritage Medical Center will be given the opportunity to transfer to other positions in the hospital.

"With the state's approval of the Certificate of Need application, the hospital will determine how to best reallocate the financial resources and the associated square footage within the facility, for service lines more appropriate to the demographics and needs of the community," the release stated.

Heritage Medical Center recently announced that the Frist Cardiology group is planning to set up in Heritage's Medical Arts building.

Buckner also said the hospital is in the process of opening an outpatient center for X-rays and extremity MRIs, a top-of-the-line bariatric center, and plans to add more specialists to the staff and additional services.

"We are bringing in services that are in demand," Buckner said, adding that patient satisfaction at the new hospital as been outstanding.

"And I am proud to support the community in that way," he said.