For a over a decade now Miami-Dade County’s Jackson Memorial has been collecting a half-cent sales tax to fund need care to the community at Jackson’s various campuses. Since voters passed it in 1991, the tax, goosed by the booming economy, has funneled $791 million into the hospital’s coffers. This fund is intended to keep Jackson in the business of providing needed services to the community. Recently Jackson has announced a proposed closure of the Labor and Delivery Unit at their Jackson South Campus. Normally I would not be sad to see a L&D unit shut it’s doors, but Jackson South is the hospital with the lowest rate of cesareans and, not surprisingly one of the best outcome rates. It is the only hospital in the county where the majority of births are attended my nurse-midwives.
The most maddening thing about the proposed closure is the reason behind it. It seems that the specialty docs at Jackson are coveting the two ORs on the floor in order to have a full time bariatric surgical center. While obesity is an issue in this country, I find it hard to believe that the tax payers who approved this tax over a decade ago would be happy to know that an OB unit with a great track record is being eliminated in order to make room for an elective weight loss surgery center.
This is just more proof that obstetrics is not based in science. If it was, good outcomes would equal more funding for that program, not closure. Shame on Jackson, shame on the Public Health Trust.
What an outrageous thing to do! Can FFoM and other birth advocates do a letter writing campaign?
Sad that those mommas that would deliver there will now being facing c/section chances if they choose to have an in hospital delivery.
Sounds like some education needs to be happening in that neck of the woods!
Is there anything we can do?
Best thing to do is write letters to the editor of the local papers. Jackson has been unresponsive.
You can start by writing the editors of the local papers. Thus far Jackson has been unresponsive.