Over the past several years, many rural communities throughout Kansas have lost their small hospital birth options and have to travel to other hospitals to give birth to babies. That could happen soon in Ottawa. In May, Ottawa Family Physicians gave a 6 month notice to AdventHealth Ottawa that they were unable to continue the 24 hour a day, 7 days a week coverage needed to maintain obstetrics services at the hospital. They have tried for years to recruit physicians with the necessary training needed for deliveries and c-sections, but, have not been successful.
As they transition away from offering labor and delivery services, AdventHealth is working to find doctors to continue providing birth services in Ottawa. They too are having trouble recruiting those with the needed training. Officials at AdventHealth say they want to continue the service and will continue to look for the proper doctors to fill the need. If they are not able to find any, Ottawa Family Physicians will work with other obstetrics groups and hospitals in the surrounding area that can do deliveries and c-sections. Both AdventHealth and Ottawa Family Physicians say they want the community to continue to have high quality labor and delivery options locally, and will do all they can to ensure the service continues.
