The dawn of a new year means new beginnings, celebrating the start of new lives. But this year some communities couldn't welcome their Baby New Year.
Hartford HealthCare (HHC) executives have closed the maternity ward at Windham Community Memorial Hospital (WCMH), sending expectant mothers far away to deliver their babies.
As more community hospitals are taken over by larger healthcare chains, like HHC, a nationwide trend of 'healthcare deserts' has emerged. Windham County is slowly becoming one such area. This decision was made without consulting the community. HHC also failed to follow the law by closing WCMH's maternity ward before fiing a Certificate of Need (CON) with state regulators.
Someone needs to stand up to these heartless chains and hold them accountable for their actions. Help us send Hartford HealthCare and chains like it a strong message: maternity care needs to be kept local and accessible for mothers and babies. Let your lawmakers know what Hartford HealthCare's executives are up to before another community loses its local labor and delivery services.
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