State Rep. Martin Causer is among those concerned about the closure of UPMC Cole labor and delivery services.

The Bradford Republican, whose district includes Cameron, McKean and Potter counties, is concerned the closure will create a significant maternity care desert across multiple counties. We’re not sure, given the distance from Coudersport to Warren, if any of the women who would have given birth at UPMC Cole will end up in the delivery rooms at Warren General Hospital, but whenever there is are changes like this there are ripple effects throughout regional health care systems, so it’s possible.

UPMC says it will provide 24/7 ambulance transportation for inter-facility patient transfers, personalized coordination of transportation services, overnight accommodations for expectant mothers and family members, including fuel subsidies, to ease the financial burden.

What’s more concerning is that the closure of the UPMC Cole labor and delivery center is part of a statewide trend of labor and delivery unit closures in rural counties across Pennsylvania. UPMC officials cited difficulties in recruiting an OB/GYN physician and a shortage of labor and delivery nurses as the primary reasons for the closure.

Thirty-eight hospitals have closed labor and delivery units over the past 20 years, according to a recent Erie Times-News report.

That’s one reason to be thankful that Warren General Hospital still offers those services – and a reason for state officials to push for solutions for rural areas that find themselves without a labor and delivery unit that is accessible for expectant mothers.