Save RMH Maternity Care
Providence is attempting to close maternity services at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, CA. Join the fight to stop this from happening!
This will put the lives of mothers and babies in jeopardy and is not what the community wants.
09/04/2021
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/08/books/review/the-hospital-brian-alexander.html
A Single Ohio Hospital Reveals All That’s Wrong With American Health Care In Brian Alexander’s “The Hospital,” an intimate portrait of a small hospital in Bryan, Ohio.
07/04/2021
Today! Join us at 6pm as hospital stakeholders host an additional public forum for the Redwood Memorial OB transition.
As part of the plan to implement the transition of the obstetrics program from Redwood Memorial Hospital (RMH) to St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka (SJE), caregivers and the public are invited to join a virtual community education forum today. This will be the second installment of our community education series aimed at engaging the public on this very important plan to enhance childbirth services for all of Humboldt County.
As in the original forum early in March, stakeholders from our leadership and clinical teams will provide key factors supporting the transition plan to a single, high-quality program at SJE, effective July 1, 2021. The community is invited to submit questions during the Microsoft Teams Live event platform or by sending them to [email protected].
To join the community forum, please click here: http://provhealth.org/6189HIich
We look forward to connecting with you tonight!
06/04/2021
Fortuna's obstetrics unit is moving to Eureka, but there is a strong pushback from locals - KIEM-TV | Redwood News FORTUNA, Calif. (KIEM)- The closing of the obstetrics unit in Fortuna was announced in late February. In a press release from Providence, formerly known as St. Joseph Health, it stated that the reason for the closure is the declining birth volumes across the Eel River Valley and the county-wide loss...
30/03/2021
A Cry for Action From the Campaign to Save RMH’s Birthing Center and a Severely Critical Letter Of Opposition From Healthcare Workers Union Are the Latest Shots Fired in a Heated Battle Pitting Medical Workers and Mothers Against Providence St.... Last week, the President and CEO of Providence St. Joseph based in Seattle, Washington received a letter directly from Humboldt County union representatives, bypassing local and state hospital executives and going straight up the chain of command to the national corporate office. In the latest organ...
29/03/2021
oooh.....so you aren't really trying to save jobs... hmmm...
WTH Providence?! Can you be any more community tone deaf here?
https://mailchi.mp/687834d52dde/providences-plan-for-new-birth-center-is-a-lie?e=cfc7c3baee
26/03/2021
We have tried taking our case to the local executive who is responsible for this decision.
We are currently taking our case to the new Attorney General, The Honorable Rob Bonta, and expect to have more information about the status of our petition next week.
We have taken our case to the community, and they have been clear about what they want and that is to keep obstetric service open in the Eel River Valley. Several mothers have given video testimony to explain why keeping this service line open at Redwood Memorial will save lives...saving the lives of both mothers and babies.
Our next fight will be financial. We are asking our community to take the pledge to withhold donations to Providence until they reverse this decision. We encourage folks to instead take a pledge to make future donations to an effort to create a true community hospital in Fortuna. A community hospital that will not be beholden to huge profit margins that pad thick CEO bonuses. A community hospital that will keep service lines open because the community needs them, whatever it takes.
https://tinyurl.com/rmh-pledge
Take the Pledge! Our fight continues. Will you pledge to withhold donations to Providence and their regionally affiliated hospitals (St. Joseph Eureka & Redwood Memorial) as a protest against their decision to close the maternity ward at Redwood Memorial? Will you instead commit to a future donation to an effort to....
25/03/2021
Heartbreaking but it is important for you to hear this mother's story. Please take a moment to listen.
Providence, your position on the closure of our obstetric service is irresponsible and cruel.
These lives matter more than your business analysis for profitability. Keep obstetrics at Redwood Memorial Hospital open!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QYIM34gFA4
Cailun Quinn Lyons Story Providence Hospital has decided to end obstetric services at our small rural hospital. These are stories of women and babies that would have died if this hos...
25/03/2021
When private companies own healthcare their bottom line matters more than your own.
24/03/2021
A Ferndale mom tells her story about the emergency delivery of her child on the bridge on the way to the hospital. Please take a moment to listen.
Providence. You should listen also.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhnLdnAZicc
Helen Speaks - Keep Redwood Memorial Hospital Obstetrics Open Providence Hospital has decided to end obstetric services at our small rural hospital. These are stories of women and babies that may have died if this hospi...
24/03/2021
My Word | Act today to help save rural health care I know that small, rural hospitals are having a hard time financially. But I also know that hospitals should not be profit making machines.
23/03/2021
People over profits Providence.
Please take a moment to listen to this mother's story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kbHK5fgkQw
Kim Speaks - Don't Close Redwood Memorial OB! Providence Hospital has decided to end obstetric services at our small rural hospital. These are stories of women and babies that would have died if this hos...
23/03/2021
Virtual Care For Rural Moms: Using Public Health Emergency COVID-19 Regulations, ‘Post-COVID’ St. Joseph Hospital Transitions Prenatal Services ‘Closer To Home’ – Redheaded Blackbelt Potential healthcare services that may be included in the shift to prenatal telehealth are using videoconferencing to replace in-person visits, implementing at-home self-monitoring, and could enable consultations with specialists in other locations.
14/03/2021
Providence St. Joseph Claims Redwood Memorial Hospital Can’t Deliver: Closure Puts Rural Humboldt at Risk, Say Many in the Community – Redheaded Blackbelt "As of now, the planned closure is slated for July 1st, little more than three months away."
13/03/2021
Obstetric services are not profitable? Ok. Fight to change the reimbursement but don't avoid providing the care. There are plenty of more profitable services to make up the difference.
Women in our community deserve better.
We have taken care of Providence plenty. It is time for them to take care of us.
SoHum hospital reaches 85% of fundraising goal for new facility The Southern Humboldt Health Foundation is one step closer to constructing a new hospital in Garberville after reaching 85% of its fundraising goal. To date, the foundation has raised $2.3 million …
Yesterday the world celebrated International Women's Day. Today Providence would like to close our obstetrics service line at Redwood Memorial Hospital. The women in our community deserve better.
Be better Providence.
Rescind this decision immediately and show the community you really do honor the work and lives of women in Humboldt County.
This is a patient's story... Please take a moment to read it and understand the impact closing this service will have on lives like this one.
05/03/2021
Providence in Humboldt to host community town hall Thursday regarding OB unit merger Providence in Humboldt is hosting a community town hall meeting Thursday night to discuss the recent decision to close the obstetrics unit at Redwood Memorial Hospital later this year. The meeting, hosted by Providence in Humboldt Chief Executive Roberta Luskin-Hawk, will center around why the hospi...
05/03/2021
In scathing rebuke, Redwood Memorial Hospital nurses say they oppose closure of labor unit Registered nurses at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna have announced that they are opposing the closure of the labor and delivery unit at the hospital. The California Nurses Association announced their stance via a press release Thursday afternoon, ahead of a town hall meeting hosted by Providen...
Thank you Providence team for taking an hour to explain the decisions you have made for our community. Thank you for taking questions from the public. This is a difficult situation and much more communication is necessary if you would like to enjoy the continued support of this community.
04/03/2021
Travel time from Fortuna to St. Joseph Eureka is not 15min. Try 30. Mothers and babies will be harmed.
Have a listen at this KMUD investigation.
https://m.soundcloud.com/kmudnews/birthing-center-closure-sparks-controversy?fbclid=IwAR1KcI3NGKRFTSLUD0B5dMuLaGGRj4UkyvNhN4rgPRQgCqxQXwCaw7JjhGM
Birthing Center Closure Sparks Controversy Providence Health has announced that it will be closing the birthing and obstetric care center at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, sparking a local controversy. KMUD's Lauren Schmitt reports....
03/03/2021
My Word | Save moms and babies at Redwood Memorial Hospital https://www.times-standard.com/2021/03/03/my-word-save-moms-and-babies-at-redwood-memorial-hospital/
My Word | Save moms and babies at Redwood Memorial Hospital Providence St. Joseph executives have chosen this moment to announce they are shutting down our obstetrics department at Redwood Memorial Hospital. This is a tragic loss for our community.
03/03/2021
Listen to the physicians and nurses in our community not the administrators and executives making decisions outside our county.
https://www.times-standard.com/2021/03/02/community-organizes-in-effort-to-save-redwood-memorial-birthing-center/
Community organizes in effort to save Redwood Memorial birthing center “When a sudden emergency occurs, then 25 minutes becomes the difference between life and death,” the new website states. “With no obstetrician on call to help, the emergency physi…
03/03/2021
Subject: Redwood Memorial Hospital OB Transition Community Forum
Please join us for a virtual Town Hall Forum on the transition of the obstetrics program at Providence in Humboldt County – Thursday, March 4 at 5pm. Roberta Luskin-Hawk, MD, Chief Executive, will host the community discussion with a focus on how we came to the decision, our plans for the upcoming change and our efforts to harmonize the rich legacies of Redwood Memorial Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital.
We encourage you to share this information with all stakeholders in your community. Community members may submit questions to Dr. Luskin-Hawk during the forum. Please access the virtual forum here: https://bit.ly/3b5zsJw
https://fb.watch/3_yGvaKZO8/
"There's been a dramatic decline in the number of deliveries of babies being born but what we know is that it is disproportionally at Redwood Memorial where it has dropped by 44% pretty profoundly."
Note to executives: This is what happens when you close the OB practice you own and schedule all Fortuna and south patients for delivery in Eureka. Stop misleading the public! Births are down at Redwood because you made them so.
Providence has been trying to do this since the beginning of their acquisition of this hospital.
The lower number of births are a manufactured example to justify closing the labor and delivery unit. The numbers have decreased because patients from Fortuna and south are being specifically instructed to go to Eureka for delivery.
And, just for your information, it is 29-35 min. from Redwood Memorial Hospital to St. Joseph Eureka not 15. Minutes matter when women are having obstetric emergencies. Don't downplay the risk this is causing our community!
02/03/2021
Some folks might say...why don't we just try to open a birthing center in Fortuna.
Math. That's why.
"Births in freestanding birth centers are increasing, and the number of birth centers is increasing, as well, but capacity is not keeping up with demand. Freestanding birth centers provide many of the same services that are provided for low-risk pregnancies in hospitals, and there is evidence of equivalent or better outcomes of care both here in the United States and in abroad. Yet, freestanding birth centers are paid less than hospitals for doing the same work."
Really begs the question, if hospitals are the best reimbursement available and they aren't willing to keep our obstetric service at Redwood Memorial open...who can?!
Providence, stop being greedy. Take care of the community that takes care of you! Keep obstetrics and maternity services open at Redwood Memorial Hospital.
https://www.ajmc.com/view/impossible-math-financing-a-freestanding-birth-center-and-supporting-health-equity
Impossible Math: Financing a Freestanding Birth Center and Supporting Health Equity Births in freestanding birth centers are increasing, and the number of birth centers is increasing, as well, but capacity is not keeping up with demand. Freestanding birth centers provide many of the same services that are provided for low-risk pregnancies in hospitals, and there is evidence of equi...
02/03/2021
The closure of RMH obstetric services will negatively impact recruiting doctors to our community. Family Practice physicians are the solution to the rural maternity care crisis.
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20181010lv-obdeserts.html
FPs Are Answer to Rural Maternity Care Crisis Many rural communities are losing access to maternity care. AAFP President John Cullen, M.D., writes in the Leader Voices Blog that his rural Alaska community offers proof that family physicians can fill that void.
01/03/2021
Please take a moment to sign this petition if you haven't already done so. Thanks!
https://www.change.org/p/ca-attorney-general-xavier-becerra-save-women-children-s-health-in-the-eel-river-valley-10bd3d1e-1471-458d-8e3e-6d87ead11b6a
Sign the Petition Save Women & Children's Health in the Eel River Valley
Just heard news that executive Roberta Luskin-Hawk will host a public forum on Thursday 5pm. Stay tuned for more information! Get your questions ready...sounds like these will need to be emailed in advance.
01/03/2021
01/03/2021