Another hospital in Southern California will close its maternity ward. Here's where things stand

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What’s new : The Corona Regional Medical Center in Riverside County will close its maternity ward at the end of January. In a statement, the hospital said the “decision was based on the decline in the number of births at Corona Regional over the past two years and the declining birth rate in the county, which is expected to continue.”

Why it matters : Dozens of hospitals have closed in Southern California and across the state over the last decade. Last year alone, at least seven closed in the state , including USC Verdugo Hills . Experts have attributed the increased rate of closures to a number of factors, including demographic shifts, workforce shortages and financial reasons. Advocates say closures mean patients have to travel further to deliver a baby.

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