Letter to the editor: Birthing center close not easy decision

For more than 67 years, the caregivers at the Regina Hospital’s Family Birth Center have celebrated with families during some of the best moments of their lives, and we have supported them through some of the most difficult, too. 

Our dedicated team members have delivered thousands of babies with care, compassion and love.

As you may have heard, as part of Allina Health’s ongoing commitment to provide comprehensive care in the east metro, Regina Hospital’s inpatient labor and delivery services will close and transition to one location at the Mother Baby Center at United Hospital and Children’s Minnesota, effective Feb. 3, 2022.

We recognize that changes in services in our community can be difficult. This decision comes after countless, thoughtful discussions about how to deliver the best care to our whole community. 

To our dedicated staff impacted by this transition, we will be working closely with you to provide you other job opportunities at Regina Hospital or with Allina Health.

We have seen a shift in the care choices of expecting women. The majority of mothers in the communities we serve are choosing to deliver babies outside of Hastings, for example at United Hospital in St. Paul. 

As well, our birth center program at Regina Hospital doesn’t provide the array of services some mothers want or need like high-risk pregnancy care or a NICU. 

The landscape of obstetric services is changing in our city, our state and the nation with a projected birth rate decline over the next 10 years, due in part to women delaying their pregnancies to later in life and having smaller families.

One delivery location ensures we can best serve our families with a broad array of services that may be needed during delivery or higher-risk pregnancy. 

Our providers both OB/GYN and Family Practice with OB will remain at Regina Hospital and the Allina Health clinics in Hastings. The majority of prenatal, postnatal and gynecology patient care will be offered at our Hastings locations.   

For years, United and Regina hospitals have successfully collaborated to deliver care for our east region communities in many ways, including advancing cardiovascular, cancer, mental health and general surgery services together. In the upcoming months we will examine more ways that we can work closer together to continue to provide excellent local care for our communities. 

Allina Health is committed to making investments in the Hastings community that will improve the experience for our patients.

We have been touched to hear how important the history and staff at Regina’s Family Birth Center means to the Hastings community, and we thank everyone who has entrusted Regina Hospital with their care needs. We truly need our communities’ support of all the services we provide locally to ensure Allina Health remains a community asset for years to come.

Helen Strike

President, Regina Hospital & River Falls Area Hospital