ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A northeast Georgia hospital is closing its labor and delivery unit, prompting concerns about care for pregnant women.

St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital announced that it’s consolidating labor services into its Athens hospital. Its Lavonia location, which is about an hour’s drive northeast of Athens, will no longer offer such care.

The Lavonia hospital’s Clear Creek OB-GYN office will also close.

Both changes will take place by late October, the hospital said. In a statement, representatives cited recent Congressional Medicaid cuts, recruitment challenges and changing demographics.

The hospital said it tried to secure new funding, recruit doctors and create new partnerships for 18 months before making the decision.

“Our exhausting discernment showed

See Full Page