LAURIUM, Mich. (WZMQ) – Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital will no longer offer OB/GYN services at their Laurium facility. 19 News spoke to members of the Michigan Nurses Association for a look at how this closure will affect the community.
Patients who had planned to deliver their babies in Laurium will now be forced to make the trip to Hancock to access OBGYN services. The decision to close down the OBGYN department, according to Aspirus, was made because of concerns about staffing, recruiting, and retention of medical professionals at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital. Melissa Helppi, President of the Michigan Nurses Association at the Laurium facility, says expectant mothers should make plans to go elsewhere.
“Portage the hospital down the road. They do continue to have those services, but they’ll be doubling or more than doubling their patient load by taking on our patients as well,” said Helppi.
However, if an expectant mother finds themselves unexpectedly in labor and unable to get to Portage Hospital, their only choice now is the Emergency Room. As far as patients, if they still present here, they will get evaluated and care as needed in the Emergency Department, Labor Relations, Representative for the MNA Katlyn Lafrinere is not optimistic, given Aspirus’ recent closures in the UP.
‘It’s certainly very disappointing that Aspirus had made a promise to the up, You know, specifically with Ontonagon to build a new hospital, and then ended up closing it. There’s a promise at Keweenaw Hospital to expand the hospital but they are closing departments. You know, I feel that the UP’s best interest is not at heart with this Aspirus right now,” said Lafrinere.
ASPIRUS has assured nurses and staff that their jobs are safe.
“No one is losing a position at Keweenaw Hospital so everybody has, you know, a separate position that they’re able to move into open positions that they’re able to move in to, Fortunately,” said Lafrinere.
19 News has reached out to ASPIRUS for comment, but we have received no reply.
