A Message for Patients, Families, and the Community
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 New York State Department of Health (DOH) process to close inpatient labor and delivery (L&D), newborn nursery, and post-partum services at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital. We have filed plans with the DOH and will work closely with them throughout this process.
This decision is based on patient safety. Labor and delivery care requires a highly specialized team available around the clock, and ongoing staffing challenges combined with declining birth volumes make it increasingly difficult to safely sustain these services at Newark-Wayne. Our focus remains on ensuring safe, high-quality care and providing clear guidance to every patient.
If you are a patient, you may be seeing this information before your provider has had the opportunity to reach out to you directly. Please know that your provider will be contacting you to discuss next steps and answer any questions you may have.
What's Changing
- Upon New York State Department of Health approval, Labor and delivery services will no longer be offered at Newark‑Wayne Community Hospital
- Deliveries will transition to Rochester General Hospital and other appropriate facilities
What's Not Changing
- Newark-Wayne Community Hospital remains open
- Emergency care and transfer protocols remain in place
- Prenatal and outpatient OB/GYN women’s health care will continue at our Newark OB/GYN offices
- Our commitment to serving the Newark and Finger Lakes communities remains unchanged
- This transition ensures 24/7 access to specialized labor and delivery resources
Why This Change Is Happening
Several factors have made it harder to safely continue labor and delivery services at Newark‑Wayne Community Hospital, including:
- Challenges keeping full‑time OB/GYN coverage available around the clock and increased reliance on temporary physician coverage
- Fewer births at Newark‑Wayne over time
- More families choosing to deliver at regional hospitals with advanced resources on site
Moving delivery services to other Rochester Regional Health hospitals helps ensure patients have reliable, 24/7 access to specialized care when it’s needed most - while continuing prenatal, outpatient post-partum, and women’s health care close to home.
Currently Pregnant Patients
- You can continue prenatal and outpatient post-partum care with your current provider
- Your care team will help you plan where you will deliver
- You'll continue to receive guidance and support throughout your pregnancy
Deliveries & Emergencies
- Deliveries will continue at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital until DOH approval
- Following DOH approval, deliveries will shift to Rochester General Hospital
- Emergency care remains available at Newark‑Wayne Community Hospital; urgent obstetric or newborn care will be stabilized and transferred appropriately
Medical Records
- If you stay within Rochester Regional Health, your medical record remains available to your care team
- If you receive care elsewhere, you can request a copy via MyCare or a release form
Questions or need assistance?
If you have questions or need guidance, contact your care team by phone or through MyCare.
Ongoing Women’s Health Care in Newark
Rochester Regional Health will continue to provide women’s health services in Newark and surrounding communities, including:
- OB/GYN appointments and follow-up care at The Women’s Center - Newark and OB/GYN - Geneva.
- Prenatal, outpatient post-partum, and gynecologic services
- Expanded women’s health appointment access across the Finger Lakes
Our goal is to help patients continue getting the women’s health care they need without disruption. By redirecting provider time from inpatient labor and delivery coverage to office‑based women’s health services, we can offer more available appointments and better access to ongoing OB/GYN care for the community.
Supporting Our Team Members
Our physicians, nurses, and care teams are essential to the strength of Newark‑Wayne Community Hospital.
- Team members are being supported through individualized transition planning, with opportunities across Rochester Regional Health.
- We are deeply grateful for the dedication and compassion our Labor & Delivery teams have shown to families over many years
Timeline: What to Expect
Now: Patients and providers are being notified and supported through the transition
May: Public Hearing on the Program Closure
Spring/Summer: Final regulatory steps and ongoing communication
Following DOH Approval (~90 days): Labor and delivery services transition to other Rochester Regional Health hospitals
After Transition: Continued outpatient women’s health services at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital and coordinated delivery care regionally
Our Commitment to the Finger Lakes
This transition is part of a broader effort to ensure continued access to care across the Finger Lakes, including:
Emergency Care Access
Continuing Newark‑Wayne Community Hospital’s role in emergency and hospital care
Growing Local Services
Expanding outpatient and women’s health services in growing community areas
Care Close to Home
Supporting long‑term, reliable care across the Finger Lakes region
Rochester Regional Health remains committed to investing in local facilities, services, and care teams so patients and families can continue to access high‑quality care, today and in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester Regional Health has filed plans with the NYS DOH and will be working with them through the process to close the Marshall Birthing Center, located within Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, pending state review and regulatory approval.
No. Newark-Wayne Community Hospital will remain open and fully operational for emergency care, surgical services, and other inpatient and outpatient services.
Newark-Wayne Community Hospital remains open and fully operational, and outpatient OB/GYN services will continue on-site at at the Women’s Center - Newark and OB/GYN - Geneva.
The date is dependent on final DOH approval.
Safe inpatient deliveries require reliable 24/7 coverage by specialized clinicians. Ongoing workforce shortages, combined with declining birth volumes and changing community needs, have made it increasingly difficult to safely and sustainably staff a 24/7 inpatient L&D unit at this location.
While there are financial implications of this decision, our primary motivation for this decision is safety - making sure every delivery is safe for patients and babies. The decision to pursue closure of the birthing center comes only after many years of exploring other possible solutions that might allow it to stay open. Unfortunately, staffing challenges and changing community need have made this the best option at this time.
Until approval is granted by the DOH, patients can continue to deliver at NWCH. Following approval by the DOH, patients will be supported in delivering at Rochester General Hospital or other nearby facilities based on clinical needs and patient preference.
Yes. Outpatient OB/GYN services will continue at the Women’s Center - Newark and OB/GYN - Geneva.
Patients should continue prenatal appointments as scheduled and contact their OB provider to discuss their delivery plan. Additional resources and direct outreach will be provided based on gestational age and clinical needs.
The birthing center at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital remains open until the closure is approved. In an emergency, patients should call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department. Emergency services at NWCH remain open.
We will work with each mom to guide them step by step, to ensure safe, seamless, supported care as delivery services transition to Rochester General Hospital and other appropriate facilities.
We are committed to supporting impacted team members. Team members will be offered comparable opportunities within Rochester Regional Health and will receive individualized support from Human Resources.
The Birthing Center at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital remains open for deliveries during this transition. If transportation is expected to be a challenge, we encourage you to discuss this with your provider at your next visit.
Interpreter services are always available for conversations with your care team.
The Birthing Center at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital remains open for deliveries during this transition. We encourage you to discuss potential risks and other complex needs with your provider at your next visit.
We will share updates as key milestones occur, including information on care transitions, patient resources, and how to access services on this page.