Newborn baby photo by Janko Ferlic on unsplash.com

Visalia-based Family HealthCare Network informed patients last month that it is discontinuing its OBGYN services, including delivering babies, at Adventist Health Hanford effective Sept. 1.

Family HealthCare Network will continue to provide OBGYN services at its two Hanford clinics, as well as Kaweah Health Medical Center in Visalia and Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville.

Family HealthCare Network patients can continue to receive prenatal care at the Hanford clinics, but will have to choose a different provider to deliver at the Hanford hospital.

“We understand that this change may cause some inconvenience, and we apologize for any concern this may cause you,” according to the Family HealthCare Network letter. “While we hope you continue your care with us, we understand if you want to transfer care to an alternative provider who delivers at Adventist Health.”

The letter didn’t indicate why Family HealthCare Network was cutting OBGYN services at Adventist Hanford. Messages left with the two providers were not answered, but officials with both health systems gave statements to the Valley Voice on what this means for patients.

Kerry Hydash, president and CEO of Family HealthCare Network, told the news website in an email, “Based on the volume of activity at Adventist Hanford, we are transitioning away from providing OB inpatient services there.”

Renee Garcia, marketing account manager for Adventist Health, told the Valley Voice the move would not impact patients.

“Adventist Health Hanford Birth Center is fully staffed with six on call OB providers. FHCN currently provides one on call OB, once per month. This will have no impact on the ability to support our maternal patients’ needs,” she said. “Adventist Health has been notified that FHCN can no longer provide their OBGYN provider to take call for the Adventist Health Hanford Birth Center.”

OBGYN services have been curtailed at Valley hospitals in recent months, including in the Adventist system. Adventist Health Tulare shut down its maternity ward in June due to waning demand. American Advanced Management, the new operator for Madera Community Hospital, announced it doesn’t intend to revive the maternity ward as it aims to reopen the shuttered hospital later this year.