IRONWOOD, Mich. (WZMQ) – Aspirus Health will transition its maternal care services at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital and Clinics to a new model, ending labor and delivery on December 31, 2025, while continuing its prenatal and postnatal care for local families.
“This change will align our services with the region’s evolving needs while ensuring we can sustain comprehensive maternal care,” said Natalie Seaber, President of the Michigan Region for Aspirus Health. “We remain deeply committed to Ironwood and the surrounding communities, and we will adapt as those needs change to fulfill our mission of healing people, promoting health, and strengthening our communities.”
A driving factor in the decision came from persistent national and regional OB/GYN shortages. Despite years of aggressive recruiting, Aspirus has been unable to secure a full maternal care team in Ironwood. Since June 2024, the hospital has operated with just one full-time family practice/obstetrics physician, making around-the-clock coverage unsustainable. The American Medical Association projects the U.S. will face a shortage of 5,000 OB/GYNs by 2030, leading more than a dozen Wisconsin and Michigan hospitals to end deliveries already.
The hospital’s emergency department and facilities remain equipped to handle any urgent labor and delivery needs that arise.
The Michigan Nurses Association also commented on the closure in Ironwood.
“Nurses are outraged that Aspirus is cutting even more health care for the U.P. and we are extremely worried about women who will now have to drive another 45 minutes to Ashland or another Wisconsin hospital to have their baby – or those who end up in an emergency,” said Ashley Thompson, an OB nurse at the hospital. “Our emergency department nurses are amazing but they do not have the specialized training to deal with a problematic childbirth, when both lives are at risk. It’s just body blow after body blow by Aspirus, with no regard to the fact that they’re leaving our community without the care they need.”
Fewer than 40% of rural hospitals nationwide are equipped to perform routine deliveries due to declining volumes, workforce shortages, and quality concerns.
