Banner Casa Grande Medical Center will continue providing labor and delivery care despite the departure of its sole obstetric provider. The hospital network confirmed that services will remain uninterrupted while a permanent staffing solution is developed.
Sun Life Health previously announced it would cease operations at the facility on Aug. 1. The departure left the community without local obstetric care, forcing expectant mothers to travel approximately one hour to the nearest provider. Evelyn Farris, a pregnant resident, told Arizona’s Family that relying on Interstate 10 for emergency care is not an ideal situation.
In response to the gap in care, Banner Health stated that physicians already familiar with the hospital and the community will continue to serve mothers, babies, and families. These providers will work seven days a week, 24 hours a day, until a longer-term plan is finalized. The network emphasized that labor and delivery, neonatal intensive care, and other obstetric services remain fully operational.
Jonathan Willms, chief medical officer for Sun Life Health, attributed the closure of its offices to a significant shortage of OB-GYNs. The company expressed hope to reestablish services in Casa Grande within the year.
Details regarding the specific identity of the physicians who will continue working at the hospital were not provided. The timeline for finalizing the longer-term staffing plan remains unclear.
