The Impact of Rural Hospital Closures

Rural Americans face unique struggles as hospitals lose essential services, like maternity units. Katie Gowell, a new mother in Maine, was forced to travel 40 minutes to receive life-saving care while in labor. The hospital she was treated at had shuttered its maternity ward just months earlier, becoming the 11th hospital in Maine to shut down its birthing unit in the last decade. Gowell had to fight to receive emergency care there, showcasing the need for maternity care in her community. But even after it saved Gowell’s live, the hospital has no plans of creating a permanent maternity solution for rural Maine residents, leaving expectant mothers without the life-saving care they so desperately need. Our Health Equity advocates for accessible and affordable healthcare for all Americans, no matter where they live. Read more here.