Santa Rosa is bracing for a major shakeup in kids’ healthcare. Providence’s Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital will stop admitting patients to its inpatient pediatric unit on March 27, the health system confirmed this week. The eight-bed ward is set to be converted to adult inpatient care, a move pediatricians and county advisers warn could force some families to travel hours for a hospital stay when a child is seriously ill.
Hospital cites low volume and stretched resources
In Tuesday’s notice, Providence said the pediatric unit averages fewer than two patients per day and that most children are discharged in under 48 hours. The hospital plans to convert the eight licensed pediatric beds to adult capacity to keep up with higher demand for adult inpatient…..