The availability of obstetric care services in Kansas has significantly decreased over the past decade, with thirteen counties no longer offering maternal care. This decline in services has resulted in overburdened hospitals, long drives for pregnant women seeking care, and poor outcomes in pregnancy and delivery.
Jennifer Cunningham, a resident of Garden City, had to travel over six hours for care during her high-risk pregnancies because she didn’t feel the local obstetrics department could adequately care for her. This lack of services has forced many women in rural areas to travel long distances to Wichita or further for proper care, impacting the growth and prosperity of these communities.
Medical professionals in Kansas are exploring solutions such as telehealth and student loan repayment incentives to address the maternal health care deserts in the state. However, the challenges of retaining and attracting OB-GYN doctors in rural hospitals persist, with issues such as inconsistent anesthesia services and limited pre- and postnatal care further complicating the situation.
Experts are calling for collaboration at local, regional, state, and national levels to address these maternal care shortages and ensure that all women have access to quality care during pregnancy and delivery. Access to maternal care has been identified as a top patient safety hazard for 2024, highlighting the urgent need for action to improve maternal health outcomes in Kansas and beyond.
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