Conemaugh Nason to End Scheduled OB Deliveries in October

Citing a declining number of deliveries over the past several years and a focus on community needs, Conemaugh Nason Medical Center in Roaring Spring has announced it will no longer offer scheduled obstetrics deliveries effective Oct. 9.

In a statement released earlier this week, Nason CEO Tim Harclerode said limited community demand for the service combined with increasing operational challenges have made it difficult for the hospital to provide OB services in an effective way. Although scheduled deliveries will end, Harclerode said Nason will partner with Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center and other local facilities in the area to ensure that patients continue to receive the services.

“With several other excellent options for care nearby, we are confident that expectant mothers in our area will continue to have access to high-quality OB services,” Harclerode said.

Harclerode said Nason will continue to do emergency deliveries as needed.

Harclerode said Nason will work with the employees affected by the move and hopes they remain in the Conemaugh system.

“We are working closely with impacted employees to assist them during this transition, and it is our hope that all staff will apply and be placed in open positions here at Nason or at one of our other Conemaugh campuses,” he said.

Harclerode said the decision to end deliveries was not easily made but necessary to expand other services at the hospital.

“While this was a difficult decision, this change will allow us to invest more resources in expanding services that the community needs like cardiology, orthopedics, GI, ENT, and general surgery,” he said. “We are proud to serve this community and remain committed to evolving our care to best meet the needs of our patients and help us advance our mission of making communities healthier.”