The hospital where this mom-to-be plans to deliver her first child is more than an hour from her home
Mom-to-be Stephanie Zuroski plans to deliver her first child at a hospital over an hour away from her rural home in Elk County, Pennsylvania. The only hospital in the county recently announced it would be moving its labor and delivery services to a different location. This decision has limited maternal health care options in the area and could potentially result in riskier delivery conditions. The closure of the labor and delivery unit has left several counties in the region with limited access to such services, with some areas categorized as maternity care deserts. The situation is not unique to Elk County, as other rural areas in Pennsylvania face similar challenges. Efforts are being made to support and incentivize the health care system to maintain services in these communities.