TROY, Ohio (WDTN) — The Miami County community is demanding answers on the announced closure of the maternity center at Upper Valley Medical Center.
On Thursday, Feb. 29, the Labor and Delivery Unit at Upper Valley Medical Center in Troy will permanently close. Premier Health’s January announcement marks Upper Valley as the 13th hospital in Ohio to close its maternity unit within the last two years.
Miami County Health Commissioner Dennis Propes says women residing in Miami County who may have utilized Upper Valley Medical Center will have to travel further. Currently, the location is the only full-service hospital in the entire county.
“Obviously the birthing, they’re still going to have to go outside of the county for for now,” Propes said.
Labor and Delivery Unit closing at Premier Health location
Premier Health released a statement at the time of the announcement saying it was a very difficult decision. Factors like shrinkage of births, physician recruitment challenges and patients traveling outside of the county for care were reasons cited by the healthcare organization for the closure.