The signatories to this open letter are listed below the text.
To our Lamoille community,
We, the undersigned, have learned that Copley Hospital’s leadership has proposed closing its birthing center and eliminating all pregnancy care and births here in order to cut costs. We feel that the public has a right to know about this potential plan, given the impact it could have on our community.
While the financial crisis facing Vermont hospitals is real, eliminating this essential service would be a betrayal of Copley’s mission to promote the wellness of our community. Families come to Copley from all parts of Lamoille County and beyond for prenatal and birth care.
If Copley were to eliminate the birthing center, as is currently being considered, these families would have to travel to Burlington, Barre or further for care. The cost in time and money to get regular prenatal care would be steep for many local families. Without regular, high-quality prenatal care, many birth complications can go unchecked. And without a safe place to give birth, Lamoille County will lose more young families who are key to our future.
We know there is a crisis in maternity care in America. Despite our wealth as a country, our rates of maternal and neonatal mortality are much higher than many other industrialized nations. Many factors drive this poor showing, but chief among them is lack of access to high quality and consistent prenatal care. Copley has excellent maternal and newborn outcomes, which is another reason it would be tragic to lose this program.
The financial problems in health care will be hard to solve. Tough choices lie ahead for all of our health care institutions. But we need to resist the moral bankruptcy of cutting needed services and putting the health of Vermonters in jeopardy to shortsightedly reduce costs.
Eliminating our Birthing Center will ultimately hurt the future of Copley Hospital and our community. It is shortsighted at best, and dangerous at worst.
If you feel similarly, please let Copley’s administration know your thoughts on the matter. They can be reached through the Copley website or by phone at 802-888-8888.
Thank you,
Kara Allen, MA
Hannah Ancel, Director of Community Health Integration, Lamoille Health Partners
Wendy Andres, RN
Kim Austin-Pulieo, MSW, LICSW, LADC
Susan Baker, RN
Rachael Barber, MA
Ellen Bouchard, RN
Alexandra Kipp Bovey, CNM
Elizabeth Brock, RN
Jackie Bromley, CNM
Lance Broy, MD, MBA, MS, CPE
Lucy Chapin, CNM
Jenn Chittick, CPST, DULCE Family Specialist
Sarah Choinard, RN
Martha Churchill, CNM
Carley Claghorn, RN
Cara Conroy
Emily Dale, RN, IBCLC
Jenifer Dean, RN
Ann Marie Dryden, NP
Alison Fischman, CPM
Britta Gear, RN
Rebecca Gloss, CNM
Kelly Griggs, RN, CLC
Breanna Hart, MSW, LICSW, ACHT
Annette Jones, CNM
Deidre Keith
Marje Kelso, CNM
Mary Lou Kopas, CNM
Alison Landrey, MD
Carol Lang-Godin, Executive Director, Lamoille Family Center
Mckalyn Leclerc, MD
Karen Lencke, NP, CNM
Emma Leonard, CNM
Christine Malcolm, NP, CNM
Erinn Mandeville, CNM
Katie Marvin, MD
Marissa Mason, MSW, LICSW, PMH-C
Kat Mathieson, PNP, PhD
Susan McKee, RN
Sarah Morgan, MD
Tracey Nykiel, RN
Sarah Omotoso, RN
Jessamy Pratt, RN
Annie Price-Smith, RN
Abigail Provost, FNP
Vicki Rich, RN, IBCLC
Heidi Riendeau, CPM
Paul Rogers, MD
Hannah Rudy, RN
Louisa Salisbury, MD
Andrea Scalisi, RN
Steven Soriano, DO
Greg Stefansky, Director, Lamoille Health Collaborative
Bonny Steuer, CNM
Gail Sullivan, RNC
Susan Sykas, DNP
Choe Tartaglia, MD
Rebecca Tatel, FNP
April Vanderveer, CNM
Melissa Volansky, MD
Miranda Wescom, MA
Jeri Wohlberg, FNP
Read the story on VTDigger here: Practitioners and community members: Don’t close Copley Hospital’s birthing center.