PMH has notified patients with expected deliveries in the coming months, and alternate plans are being made.

Hospital officials are working with Woodlawn Hospital in Rochester and Logansport Memorial Hospital to ensure expectant mothers have all the resources they need for their upcoming deliveries. PMH intends to continue offering prenatal visits for pregnant mothers before transferring care to each patient’s desired hospital/physician for delivery.

“We recognize the impact of closing our OB/maternity department, and the distance that families will now have to drive for deliveries,” Barry said. “We intend to work with healthcare providers in Rochester and Logansport to continue providing prenatal visits in Winamac so expectant mothers can continue to receive that important care locally before delivery.”

PMH will still handle emergency deliveries and stabilize patients before transferring to other facilities through its emergency department.

Barry, who is set to retire at the end of the year, said the decision to close the department was one of the toughest decisions he has ever had to make.

“It is never easy to close services – especially in a rural community,” he said. “Our first and foremost priority is the health and safety of our patients and staff. We owe it to all of our patients not to compromise our overriding principle to always provide high quality healthcare services.”