ThedaCare plans to close labor and delivery services at ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca on Feb. 15.
The health system said in a statement that it made the “difficult decision” due to declining deliveries, more expectant mothers choosing to give birth at larger birth centers, a shortage of rural physicians and nurses, and the increasing complexity of labor and delivery care.
“As our communities change, we must change with them to provide the right level of care at the right place,” ThedaCare said in a statement.
ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca will continue to provide pre- and post-delivery care, breastfeeding support and well-baby care.
Physicians are working with expectant mothers to create plans at other birth centers, including ThedaCare hospitals in Appleton, Berlin, Neenah and Shawano.
A Change.org petition is asking the health system to reconsider its decision, noting that community members will have to travel far for care.
“Obstetrics is the heart of our clinic and of our critical access hospital,” the petition notes. “If the labor and delivery unit at ThedaCare Waupaca closes, there will be no hospital providing pregnancy care in a wide swath of central Wisconsin.”
ThedaCare and Froedtert Health joined forces at the start of the year.
This article first appeared in the Wisconsin Health News daily email newsletter. Sign up for your free trial here.