OB Crisis Letter to Clark County District Representatives and Senators
March 29, 2024
Dear Representative Monica Jurado Stonier,
Clark County is in a maternal care crisis. While Medicaid access has improved, overall access to insurance coverage and access to maternity care are not synonymous (1). This is becoming more apparent in our evolving healthcare landscape and the picture is depressing and disappointing. Pregnancy and pregnancy care in Washington state is in crisis. Maternal care is at a tipping point. There are maternity care deserts as birthing units at hospitals are being shut down. Recently the 73-year-old Seattle OB/GYN Clinic in First Hill had to close its doors. More than 350 pregnant patients needed to be relocated. (2)
A highly skilled workforce is required to keep any OB clinic open. Developing and maintaining a skilled workforce of clinicians is a slow and expensive process, taking on average twelve years to train a general Obstetrician-Gynecologist.
We need help now.
Read full letter