JAMA Clinical Reviews Loss of Obstetric Care in Rural and Urban Hospitals in the US
Dec 4, 2024
Katy Kozhimannil, a researcher specializing in rural maternity care, joins Linda Brubaker to discuss the troubling decline of obstetric services in U.S. hospitals. They reveal alarming statistics on the drop in maternity care between 2010-2022, particularly in rural areas, leading to increased maternal mortality. The conversation highlights the lack of transparency in service availability and the urgent need for policy reforms to improve access. Kozhimannil sheds light on how hospital mergers complicate data tracking, exacerbating these challenges for patients.
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Alabama Grandmothers
- Katy Kozhimannil's research was inspired by grandmothers in Alabama.
- They noticed daughters had to travel further for obstetric care due to hospital closures.
Data Shortage
- Accessing information on hospital obstetric services is difficult for both patients and clinicians.
- This data shortage hinders referrals and informed decision-making.
Declining Obstetric Care Access
- In 2022, over half of rural hospitals and over a third of urban hospitals didn't offer obstetric care.
- This decline in access, coupled with rising maternal mortality, is alarming.