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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
When hospitals shut down their obstetric units, pregnant patients have to travel significantly farther to give birth — and rural communities are hit hardest. A new study found closures add nearly 14 minutes of travel time on average, but rural areas face increases of almost 17 minutes. Since nearly all U.S. births happen in hospitals, that extra distance is a real barrier to care.
When a hospital closes its obstetric unit, the ripple effects are felt most by those who can least afford them. A new study published in O&G Open found that obstetric unit closures add an average of nearly 14 minutes to travel time for pregnant patients seeking care — and in rural areas, that number climbs to almost 17 minutes. Urban areas, while also affected, see a smaller increase of about 10 minutes.
The study analyzed data from 2010 to 2021 across more than 60,000 U.S. census tracts and found that 208 counties lost all hospital-based obstetric services during that period. Researchers used network analysis to calculate real-world driving times, accounting for road networks and speed limits.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Since virtually all U.S. births occur in hospitals, longer travel times aren't just an inconvenience — they're a tangible barrier to timely obstetric care, particularly for rural patients who already face limited healthcare access.
