PMHD and ECRMC Announce Consolidation of Obstetrics, Labor and Delivery and Pediatric Services

EL CENTRO AND BRAWLEY - December 20, 2022- With great enthusiasm, Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District (PMHD) and El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC) are pleased to announce the consolidation of all inpatient Maternal and Child Health Services at PMHD. ECRMC, which has the smaller of the two existing programs, will stop admitting new inpatients for these two services on January 5, 2023 and discontinue the inpatient service on January 9, 2023.

Leaders at both hospitals emphasize that the purpose of the consolidation of services at PMHD will provide the women and children of Imperial County with a unified Maternal and Child program providing high-quality care to new mothers and their babies. In the consolidated program, PMHD will deliver more than 2,500 babies each year. As stated by Tomas Oliva, ECRMC Board President, ECRMC and Pioneers are excited to work together to maintain and enhance the level of care available in our communities.

“We welcome the patients and staff from ECRMC and express our commitment to continue to provide excellent Maternal and Child Health Services to you and your families,” said Damon Sorensen, Chief Executive Officer of PMHD. “We are confident that consolidating services will benefit all mothers and newborns. At our Birth Center, our dedicated team of providers is ready to guide them through the journey of motherhood.”

PMHD offers spacious private labor-and-delivery rooms (LDRP). The labor-and-delivery nurses are highly trained in many areas, including neonatal resuscitation, fetal monitoring, and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. The hospital has a Level-2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

To learn more about the birthing center, visit https://pmhd.org/birthing-center/.

“Although this is a change in the community, it will allow us to move forward; it will also bring opportunities to our community and significant long-term benefits,” said Scott Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of ECRMC. “We assure the community that mothers will continue to experience the quality of care they deserve and expect under a county-wide Center of Excellence.” “We would like to thank both Hospital Boards for their support and commitment to making this a reality,” added Phillips.

All employees currently working at ECRMC’s existing Maternal and Child Health Programs will be offered jobs at PMHD or reassigned within ECRMC to replace travel or registry nursing staff. We do not expect any job losses as a result of this action. ECRMC will continue offering prenatal care services at Calexico and El Centro rural clinics. Our physicians and clinical team are aware of the changes.

About Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District

Pioneers Memorial Hospital is an acute-care 107-bed acute facility serving the Imperial Valley since 1950. In addition to the hospital facility, PMHD operates a Children’s Health Center, a Women’s Health Center, Cancer Institute, and a Specialty Center. The Pioneers Calexico Health Care Center offers affordable healthcare for the whole family in various specialties, helping to improve healthcare.

About El Centro Regional Medical Center

El Centro Regional Medical Center is an acute-care medical center, serving the healthcare needs of the Imperial Valley since 1956. In addition to a 161-bed hospital facility, ECRMC owns and operates a state-of-the-art Medical Office Building housing the Oncology & Hematology Center, Wound Healing Center, Outpatient Imaging services, and numerous specialty clinics. Off-campus facilities include two outpatient clinics in El Centro, and Calexico ECRMC provides comprehensive healthcare services for residents seeking enhanced well-being and improved quality of life.

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