Rural hospital nurses describe efforts to keep obstetric care

In an American Hospital Association podcast, San Luis Valley Hospital’s Monica Hinds, RN, director of emergency services, and Stephanie Posorske, CNM, RN, discuss how the Alamosa (Colo.) hospital is implementing creative strategies to keep obstetric services open for their community. Their strategies include cross training its clinical staff and partnering with community stakeholders. The unit serves pediatric patients and is a surge overflow unit as well as providing labor and delivery services. Rural hospitals are struggling to maintain obstetric services, with more than 300 birthing units across the country closing in the last five years.