No more babies: Maternity care ends in March at Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside

Beth Reese Cravey, Florida Times-Union
·2 min read
Ascension St. Vincent's hospital in Jacksonville's Riverside neighborhood.
Ascension St. Vincent's hospital in Jacksonville's Riverside neighborhood.

Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside Hospital will stop providing maternity care on March 19, citing declining patient numbers and the growth of alternative sites across Northeast Florida.

But its parent, Ascension, will continue maternity services at its hospitals on Jacksonville's Southside and in Clay County.

Ascension St. Vincent's Southside: Hospital ready to open a new inpatient rehabilitation unit

More:Ascension St. Vincent's completes second expansion in Clay County

"The healthcare needs of the community continue to change," according to Ascension. "Concentrating obstetrical and neonatal services … on the Southside and in Clay County will help ensure these sites of care will continue to fully meet the broader needs of our community."

Each "impacted patient" is being contacted individually and, in consultation with their doctors, given the option to deliver at the Southside or Clay locations. Also, staffers affected by the change will be offered "opportunities for transitioning" to other area jobs at Ascension hospitals.

Jacksonville patient gives back: Ascension oncology support program helps with non-medical needs

'Something I was raised to believe in:' Ascension's Virginia Hall pursues charity beyond J.P. Hall party

The Riverside hospital was founded by the Daughters of Charity in 1916 and celebrated 100 years of service in 2016. It "continues to lead the way in key clinical offerings, including heart care, neurosurgery and critical care," according to Ascension.

"Ascension St. Vincent’s also remains well-positioned to meet the growing needs of our community and to allow more patients to receive the care they need, when and where they need it," according to the company.

Ascension St. Vincent's spokesman Kyle Sieg said he currently had no further information, including how long Riverside has had maternity services, how many babies have been born there and how the hospital's maternity space will be used in the future.

bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville's Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside to end maternity care