Mesa View Regional Hospital today announced that after almost a decade of decreasing births, the hospital will no longer provide inpatient labor and delivery and nursery services as of October 1, 2018.
The hospital will continue to provide outpatient obstetrical services, inpatient and outpatient gynecological services, and women’s health services, such as pre-natal, post-partum, routine well woman exams and mammograms.
Over the past several years the demand for inpatient obstetrical services has decreased by more than 74 percent. In 2008 Mesa View had 236 deliveries for the year as compared to only 63 deliveries in 2017, or about 1 delivery per week. This is a trend being seen across the country in small and large hospitals alike. The hospital continually reviews service line utilization and volume trends in an effort to identify the types of health care services most needed in the community.
“The physicians and staff have worked extremely hard over the last several years to build a strong, viable OB program, but with historically declining volumes the demand is simply not there,” said Ned Hill, CEO. “This has been a very difficult decision, but we are confident it is the right one. Discontinuing elective deliveries will allow our hospital to continue building up the services most needed in our community.”
The hospital continues to see strong demand for primary care and has already recruited four new primary care providers that will join the team in the next six months.
Mesa View Regional Hospital remains equipped to respond to patients experiencing a medical emergency – obstetrics-related or otherwise. Its experienced clinical team is trained to provide emergency medical care and, if needed, make arrangements for a transfer to a higher level of care.
All patients scheduled to deliver at the hospital will be contacted in the coming days. Patients with questions should contact their primary OB/GYN provider.
About Mesa View Regional Hospital
Mesa View Regional Hospital is a 25-bed facility located in Mesquite, Nevada with skilled professional staff that offers award-winning quality and patient –focused healthcare. Rated 4-Stars by CMS, Mesa View provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient hospital services including an Intensive Care Unit, Medical, Surgical, Orthopedics – Total Joint Replacement, Women’s Health, Laboratory, Cardiopulmonary Testing, Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center, Imaging and Emergency Medicine Services. Mesa View is also an Accredited Chest Pain Center. For more information, visit MesaViewHospital.com
A few days ago we found out our children are being denied the absolute BEST care from their pediatrician Dr. Fulkerson. To take away a man who truly loves his patients is disheartening. Dr.Fulkerson is a class act. His rapport with his kiddos is like no other. He has been such a blessing to us and many other families.
If you haven’t heard, as of the week of Sept. 17th Gary Fulkerson’s contract is not being renewed. My Little One (13 years old) had tears in his eyes and said, “NOOOO!! Why?” when I told him.
It does not surprise me that after our pediatrician is being taken from us that we are hearing of the above mentioned additional change. Our town deserves good doctors like Gary Fulkerson, not these flyby-night physicians who do not really care and are working with the administration to crunch the bottom line numbers.
Am I happy to hear that more primary care doctors are coming to Mesquite, yes but what about our children??