Spencer talks about rural obstetrics closures with Insight

Ryan Spencer, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, joined Insight for a recent story about the current state of rural labor and delivery departments in Wisconsin.

In “Changing direction: More rural hospitals ending labor and delivery services,” Spencer discussed the variety of reasons why labor and delivery services in more rural parts of the state are becoming less available, like farther distances needed to access care and low Medicaid reimbursement rates.

“We have seen rural health systems face several challenges in maintaining labor and delivery services. The farther women live from a location that provides labor and delivery services, the higher the chances are of an out-of-hospital birth and increased risk for peri‑birth complications for both the mom and the baby,” said Spencer.

Read the full story here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson