PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Health has approved Care New England’s proposal to transfer obstetrics services from Memorial Hospital to Kent Hospital and Women & Infants Hospital.
Care New England announced in February its plan to restructure Memorial Hospital, which is in Pawtucket, and move obstetrics services to the other hospitals.
The health department said recently that its decision includes conditions to ensure access to care for patients and communities served by Care New England, and based them after feedback from public meetings in Central Falls and Pawtucket, and comments from Rhode Islanders.
As a result of the decision, Care New England must provide transportation for patients to other hospitals within the network for a nine-month minimum, and submit a plan to replicate Memorial Hospital’s “unique, alternative birthing experience at another Care New England hospital,” according to a health department news release. •
