"The hospital was forced to shutter the unit and convert it into adult inpatient care because of budget constraints and President Donald Trump's cuts to Medicaid, according to Dr. Eric Hodes, chief medical officer at Providence Sonoma County."
"Hodes said the pediatric unit has also seen fewer patients compared with adult units. 'This decision was not made lightly or in haste,' Hodes said in an email this week."
"Memorial Hospital's closure comes as hospitals across the country shutter pediatric units, with a 26.6% drop in units between 2008 and 2022, according to a JAMA Pediatrics study."
"The study said that the pandemic was partially to blame for the closures but also suggested that hospitals are removing pediatric beds because adult beds generate more revenue."
Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital closed its inpatient pediatric unit, converting it to adult care due to budget constraints and reduced pediatric patient numbers. Pediatric patients requiring overnight care will now be transferred over 50 miles to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital or other regional facilities. Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center is the nearest option for nonemergency pediatric care, though concerns exist about community perceptions regarding access. Nationwide, pediatric unit closures have increased significantly, particularly in rural areas, with the pandemic contributing to this trend.
Read at SFGATE
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