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Marshalltown hospital will close obstetrics unit

News

August 5th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — A hospital in Marshalltown plans to close its obstetrics unit and women’s health clinic because of a drop in births at the facility. The Marshalltown Times-Republican reports UnityPoint Health announced Monday it would make the move in response to a 45 percent decrease in the number of births at the obstetrics unit.

As Jennifer Friedly, president of UnityPoint Health — Marshalltown put it, “There simply aren’t enough women choosing to deliver locally.” The closures will result in the loss of 32 jobs but UnityPoint says it’s trying to find work for displaced employees elsewhere in the organization.

The closure follows the June 2018 loss of the hospital’s catheterization lab and the November 2018 ending of its intensive care unit.