Shortchanging women

Shortchanging women's needs?

Nov 17, 2001

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

Fewer birthing and child-care services are available at Southwest Memorial Hospital than at Mercy Medical Center in Durango, a group of mothers told the Montezuma County Hospital Board on Tuesday night.

But recruitment of a full-time pediatrician is seen as cost-prohibitive by hospital managers, who suggested that joint efforts between pediatricians from Durango and family practices in Cortez may be a way to improve the situation.

Fifty mothers have signed a petition requesting that Southwest obtain more obstetrics specialists, anesthetists and child-care doctors to stop expectant mothers — and their revenues — from leaving town in order to get services they want.

"There is a huge demand for a pediatrician here," said Monica Plewe. "Right now, families with pressing needs have to go to Durango."

The exodus of pregnant women is especially driven by the fact that epidurals, a type of anesthesia used to minimize pain during labor and birth, are not available at Southwest.

"That’s why I go (to Durango) — because they offer epidurals and more expert staffing is on hand in case something goes wrong," said Nicole Tanner. "I can’t understand why Southwest does not give epidurals; if they did, I’d have my babies here."

CEO Bob Peterson said he is aware of the problem and is negotiating to bring a physician who has the specific training to administer them.

Additional OB-GYN docs are also needed on staff, said Angela Parlington, to accommodate local demand.

"Dr. (Emily) Sutcliffe (a Cortez obstetrician and gynecologist) was overwhelmed with deliveries, so this proves we could support another OB," she said. "It is a question of options available, and the level of reassurance for expecting mothers.

"There is a concern that if a baby is born with health problems, would they have to be shipped out because of a lack of resources?"

MCHD Chairman Randy Smith was critical of the board of Southwest Health System, the private, not-for-profit company operating the hospital, for not obtaining a pediatrician yet.

"The community we represent has asked us to accommodate their needs and nothing has been done, even though we have been requesting it," Smith said.

Peterson said something is being done, but the process has been slower than expected. He outlined a plan being negotiated that could bring pediatricians from the Valley-Wide clinic in Durango to set up shop in local physicians’ offices. Pediatric services would then be provided two or three times per week.

"We have a better chance if we tag a pediatrician onto existing practices and let the business expand until it is established rather than recruit one to start here from scratch," Peterson said.

Pediatricians are very difficult to attract to rural hospitals, because most go to bigger cities where higher salaries are subsidized by HMO’s.

"It’s a lot different from recruiting a surgeon," said SHS chair John Greenemeier. "You have to come up with a lot of dollars for a long time to make it successful."

Peterson said four local doctors have expressed interest in providing room in their buildings for a pediatrician to temporarily set up shop.

The district expressed interest in helping to cover start-up costs for a pediatrician in the area. Tax dollars would have to be limited to equipment or medical facilities for a pediatrician, and could not be used to subsidize salaries. The amount needed would need to be negotiated closely with SHS, depending on specific needs.

But improving the availability of women’s care locally could mean life or death for some forced to travel for care, supporters said Tuesday.

"I have cervical cancer and if I have an outbreak then I have to drive 40 minutes, instead of 10 minutes to Southwest," said Sara Burton. "It is a time concern because when the condition is critical it could end up infecting my body with cancer cells."