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Pocono News Section
Hospital's Maternity Ward Will No Longer Exist
Hospital's Maternity Ward Will No Longer Exist - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 5:11PM EST
Reported by: Jill Konopka
Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008 @ 05:11pm EST
(TUNHANNOCK TOWNSHIP, Luzerne County) A 60-year tradition is about to change in Wyoming County. Beginning October 28th, the maternity ward at Tyler Memorial hospital will no longer exist. Soon, expecting mothers in Wyoming County will have to travel longer distances to have their babies. They'll have to go to Moses Taylor in Lackawanna County, Geisinger Wyoming Valley in Luzerne County or as far away as Bradford County. Meet Fawn Ann Burgess. Born Tuesday August 19th at 1:28 pm. Stacie Howell is her Mother - “She’s, seven pounds half an ounce." Fawn’s new claim to fame, she’ll be one of the last babies ever delivered at Tyler Memorial Hospital. Howell told Eyewitness News, "I delivered my other daughter here 17 years ago. I think it's a shame. I'm just upset because it's not going to be available to the community." Starting October 28th, Tyler Memorial will stop delivering babies altogether. In its 60 years; Tyler's turned out nearly 15-thousand deliveries. That's more than 200 newborns a year. Geisinger officials say they can't continue providing 24-7 care with only two obstetricians and... Amy Lingobardo is with Geisinger, "The difficulty recruiting more staff to deliver babies throughout the year has been tough." Hospital employees are having a hard time with the decision too. From floor staffers all the way up to the CEO. Denise Gieski was once a new mom here too. Geiski told Eyewitness News, "I was very surprised. Very sad, you know I’ve had both of my girls here, it's just very emotional for us all right now." There are other options including Moses Taylor, Towanda Memorial, and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital in Plains Township. Still some; like Stacie Howell like the comfort of being close to home. Howell added, "I don't think Moms and families will want to travel over an hour away to deliver babies when they can still go to Tunkhannock to see Dr. Wetzel and Dr. Goldstein and then they don't know if they'll be able to deliver you when you go to Wilkes-Barre." Geisinger officials say they'll train the emergency room doctors at Tyler Memorial to deliver in case of an emergency. | | |
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