Despite strong opposition from local and state officials, UPMC remains firm in its decision to eliminate labor and delivery services at UPMC Cole, creating a significant maternity care desert across multiple counties.

Following a meeting with UPMC officials, state representatives, county commissioners from Potter, Cameron, and McKean counties, and representatives of federal lawmakers, Rep. Martin Causer, R-Cameron/McKean/Potter, issued a statement from a press release expressing disappointment and concern over the impact of this decision.

“Despite the strong case we laid out for keeping labor and delivery services here in Coudersport, and the deep concerns we shared about the risks to expectant mothers and their babies, UPMC will not reverse course on its decision,” Causer said.

With no labor and delivery services remaining in several rural counties, expectant mothers will be forced to travel longer distances for maternity care–a challenge that raises serious concerns about accessibility, emergency care, and overall maternal and infant health.

UPMC officials cited difficulties in recruiting an OB/GYN physician and a shortage of labor and delivery nurses as the primary reasons for the closure. However, Causer questioned whether financial factors played a role, given reports from local nurses that UPMC Cole offers some of the lowest wages in the region.

“We have so many exceptionally skilled and talented health care professionals in our region who should be compensated appropriately for their life-saving skills,” Causer said.

Acknowledging the transportation challenges that come with closing labor and delivery services, UPMC assured officials that they would provide: 24/7 ambulance transportation for inter-facility patient transfers, personalized coordination of transportation services, overnight accommodations for expectant mothers and family members, including fuel subsidies to ease the financial burden.

Despite these measures, Causer remains deeply concerned about the strain on the region’s already fragile EMS system,which could struggle to meet increased demands.

Causer pointed to broader issues with large, not-for-profit health care systems failing to provide adequate care in rural areas, despite legislative efforts to bolster rural health care funding.

“We deserve better, and I will continue to fight for rural health care,” he vowed.

As UPMC Cole phases out maternity services, Warren General Hospital has stepped forward to assure patients that they will continue to provide labor and delivery services to those in need, including residents from McKean County and other surrounding communities.

“At Warren General Hospital, we are committed to maintaining essential services such as maternity care and labor and delivery as we believe they are vital to the health and well-being of our community,” said Mary Ridout, Director of Marketing and Communications for Warren General Hospital.

She emphasized that Warren General’s dedicated team of OB/GYN physicians and midwives is prepared to offer compassionate, high-quality care to expectant mothers facing limited options due to UPMC’s decision.