NEWARK, N.Y. – After serving families in Wayne County and surrounding communities for more than 70 years, Rochester Regional Health (RRH) has made the difficult decision to start the state process to end inpatient labor and delivery (L&D), newborn nursery, and postpartum services at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital. The closure process has started and is pending final approval by the New York State Department of Health (DOH). If approved, Labor & Delivery services would end in late summer to early fall 2026.
Learn More on the L&D Transition
During the process, Labor and Delivery will continue to operate at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital. Both during and after any closure, outpatient OB/GYN services will continue to operate at the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital campus at the Women’s Center – Newark.
Newark-Wayne Community Hospital will remain open and fully operational, continuing to provide emergency care, surgical services, and other inpatient and outpatient care for the community. RRH has a plan in place to work with each mother and walk them through the change step by step to ensure safe, seamless, supported care as delivery services transition to Rochester Regional Health. Patients will continue to have access to outpatient OB/GYN services in the region, and emergency care will still be available to expectant mothers through the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital emergency room when needed.
Consistent with declining birth rate nationwide over the last 20 years, the community Newark-Wayne Community Hospital serves has seen deliveries decline year over year, reflecting changing community needs and broader demographic trends. Combined with persistent workforce challenges, these realities have made it increasingly difficult to safely and sustainably staff a 24/7 inpatient labor and delivery unit. For Newark-Wayne OB patients who need delivery services, concentrating resources at nearby locations will enable RRH to provide a higher level of care.
“This is an incredibly difficult decision, and it was made with patient safety as the priority,” said Michael Rulffes, President and Chief Operating Officer of Newark-Wayne Community Hospital and Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic. “Safe deliveries require reliable, around-the-clock coverage by specialized clinicians. And just as there have been increasing healthcare workforce shortages across the country, we’ve also been challenged here, making it increasingly difficult to sustain the highest level of care we offer at this location. At the same time, deliveries at Newark-Wayne have declined year over year, reflecting changing community needs. We’re committed to working with every expectant mother to ensure a safe, seamless transition of care, while continuing to provide outpatient women’s health services right here in Newark.”
“Our goal is to make sure every patient has access to the right level of care at the right time, especially when it comes to labor and delivery,” said Dr. Marcy Mulconry, Interim Executive Medical Director, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “While inpatient deliveries will transition to Rochester General Hospital and other appropriate facilities, our teams will continue providing prenatal and outpatient OB/GYN care close to home, including prenatal visits, gynecology care, family planning, preventive screenings, and postpartum support. We know this change can be stressful for families, and we will guide each patient through the process, answer questions, and coordinate care so no one feels left to navigate this alone.”
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About Rochester Regional Health
Rochester Regional Health is an integrated health services organization serving the people of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, St. Lawrence County, and beyond. The system includes nine hospitals; primary and specialty practices, rehabilitation centers, ambulatory campuses and urgent care facilities; innovative senior services, facilities and independent housing; a wide range of behavioral health services; and Rochester Regional Health Laboratories and ACM Global Laboratories, a global leader in patient and clinical trials. Rochester Regional Health is the Rochester region's second-largest employer.
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