Prineville Babies Will Have to Wait for Commute to Bend

PRINEVILLE, Ore. -- Pioneer Memorial Hospital announced Wednesday it will drop its obstetric services by the end of the year because of a decline in the number of primary care physicians who can provide the service.

The decision means babies will no longer be born at the Prineville Hospital, or anywhere else in Prineville for that matter. Moms will have to drive to Bend for births and other obstetrics services.

CEO Don Wee says the hospital has tried for more than two years to recruit new primary care physicians who offer obstetric services to Crook County. He says that has yet to work, and several doctors who currently provide the service plan to leave the area or stop providing it in the coming months.

A hospital spokeswoman says 137 babies were born at the hospital last year and a record 172 in 2007.

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