The birthing center at Newport Hospital will remain open, Brown University Health said Friday. But the health system also said it needs to raise an additional $4.9 million in annual revenue to keep it open.
It is not yet clear for how long Newport Hospital plans to keep operating the birthing center. But the hospital said in a press release that it plans to launch “an aggressive effort to secure additional funding.”
The future of the Noreen Stoner Drexel Birthing Center at Newport Hospital was thrust into the public spotlight suddenly last summer, when Aquidneck Island residents learned the birthing center was facing possible elimination due to budgetary challenges for Brown University Health and other health care providers in Rhode Island.
Amidst an uproar, Brown University Health announced in July it would keep the birthing center open, at least temporarily.
The hospital system said Friday that it had hired consultants to review the birthing center’s work. That review prompted the plan to keep the center open and the need to find additional funding.
A Community Advisory Panel has also been conducting meetings to review data and evaluate options for the future of the birthing center. It is slated to hold a meeting this month.
Ultimately, Brown University Health is calling for the state and local philanthropies to provide more funding.
“The call to action is that we need the support and advocacy of our community and policymakers to secure these resources so we can continue providing essential care close to home,” Newport Hospital President Dr. Tenny Thomas said in a press release. “This is about protecting access to care for families across our region. With continued partnership and support, we are confident in our ability to sustain this vital service for years to come.”
Nearly 500 babies were born at Newport Hospital in 2024.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
