(CAMDEN, N.J.) The Lourdes Health System announced today it will consolidate its obstetrical services at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden. Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, Willingboro, N.J., will discontinue offering obstetrical services and transfer the program to Camden pending approval from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

"By combining these services, we ensure continued access to quality, faith-based obstetrical care for this region," said Alexander Hatala, President and CEO of Lourdes Health System. Overall, decreasing patient volumes and increasingly heavy financial losses resulting from insufficient reimbursement are largely responsible for this decision, said Mr. Hatala.

Affected employees will be considered for other positions within the Lourdes Health System for which they may be qualified, or offered a severance package and transition counseling.

In addition to obstetrics services, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden offers a neonatal intensive care unit, maternal transport service and high risk prenatal services, among other services. The obstetricians on staff at the Willingboro hospital will be encouraged to join the staff at Lourdes in Camden. They currently have privileges and deliver at other area hospitals, too.

The Lourdes Medical Center in Willingboro will continue to offer a variety of women's health services including gynecologic services, digital mammography and osteoporosis testing, among other services.

In addition, the emergency department will continue to provide emergency delivery services to any woman who presents and is imminently about to give birth. Following delivery, arrangements will be made to transport the mother and baby to the mother's hospital of choice that provides inpatient obstetrics and newborn services in coordination with their physician.

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