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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Blue Earth Hospital Offers Hope amid Nationwide Rural Maternity Ward Closures

Source
MPR News
Link
View Full Story
Date
Oct 23, 2025
Summary
Highlights a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in rural Minnesota successfully offering labor and delivery services in spite of nationwide department closures. Describes the challenges with offering this service in rural communities and factors contributing to this CAH's success including participating in a network and cross-training staff. Includes a state map of maternity care deserts at the county level.
Tagged as
Access · Closures of healthcare facilities and services · County-by-county data · Critical Access Hospitals · Health workforce education and training · Healthcare networks · Maternal health and prenatal care · Maternal health workforce · Minnesota