Concerns Rise Over Possible Closure of Pediatric Wing at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital

Providence is contemplating the closure of the inpatient pediatric wing at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, which could mean that many local families would need to seek pediatric care in San Francisco or Oakland, according to various sources familiar with the situation.

Union representatives from the nursing staff, which includes about a dozen nurses working in the 10-room pediatric unit, indicate that there have been discussions about this move for weeks, but Providence officials have been relatively quiet about any specifics.

In statements released to The Press Democrat, Providence refrained from explicitly confirming any intentions to close the wing, stating that no decisions have been finalized regarding its future.

The pediatric wing provides non-emergency medical care for young patients with overnight stays. Hospital management claims that the unit admits around two patients on average each day, whereas sources within the unit say that some beds are allocated for various other needs, including post-surgery observation and postpartum care.

During recent meetings, hospital management has indicated that the pediatric unit is not financially viable.

In one of its statements, Providence pointed out that, similar to other healthcare organizations, it is facing “strong headwinds” in the current economic environment. Providence operates over 51 hospitals and more than 1,000 clinics across seven western states, including three facilities in Sonoma County and Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa.

Nurses in the pediatric unit have been told that patients could be transferred to other facilities in the “community,” specifically in San Francisco or Oakland.

“I really don’t see that as part of our community,” commented a pediatric nurse who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions.

This nurse highlighted that Providence has expressed its unwillingness to continue providing a service that is, as stated, “losing millions a year.”

Garry Olney, the chief executive of Providence Northern California, mentioned in a statement that certain financial impacts stemming from legislation signed by President Donald Trump are expected to create additional strain on hospitals, particularly in suburban and rural areas.

Olney emphasized that Providence is “thoughtfully evaluating” operations at Memorial Hospital in order to determine how best to serve the local community. However, he noted that discussions about the appropriate model of pediatric care are ongoing and specifics are not currently available.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors was recently informed of the potential closure by a local physician. The Press Democrat has reached out to county and state health departments to ascertain whether Providence has notified them regarding closure plans.

Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, whose district encompasses Memorial Hospital, mentioned that Providence has contacted her staff to arrange a meeting. She remarked that hospitals nationwide are bracing for financial difficulties due to the impending regulations from President Trump’s tax and spending legislation.

“We need facilities that cater to both our youngest and oldest populations,” Hermosillo stated. “But I realize hospitals have been struggling financially for some time, and things will likely worsen under the new law.”

If the pediatric wing were to close, it would mark another reduction in local services from Providence, following the recent closure of an urgent care center in southwest Santa Rosa, as well as the discontinuation of outpatient laboratories in Northern California and the maternity ward at Petaluma Valley Hospital in 2023.

Recently, Providence agreed to pay nearly $10 million to a local health care district to exit its contractual obligation related to the Petaluma maternity ward.

In May, Henry and Marilyn Hansel, prominent local auto dealership owners, donated $10 million to support the construction of a healthcare hub focusing on cardiology, imaging, and women’s health at Memorial Hospital.

Peter Brackner, president of the Staff Nurses Association, which represents 782 registered nurses at Memorial Hospital, addressed the pediatric unit’s future during an all-staff meeting on August 20. The topic arose again in a later meeting.

Brackner relayed that Scott Ciesielski, chief administrative officer at Providence Sonoma County, informed nurses that the current model of the pediatric wing is “not sustainable,” with an average daily patient count of about 1.96.

However, Brackner noted that feedback regarding the future of the unit has been scant since the August meeting. During that meeting, Ciesielski mentioned a possible increase in outpatient support for pediatric patients and the potential for other inpatient departments to accommodate young patients.

“They are examining timelines for any possible changes,” Brackner said, adding that they are not aiming for a hasty decision and are looking for the best options for the hospital.

The pediatric wing primarily cares for less critically ill young patients, including those with conditions like jaundice, appendicitis, trauma, orthopedic issues, asthma, and infections.

Marybeth Takacs, a veteran nurse in the pediatric unit, mentioned that discussions of closures have been ongoing as a financial burden for about two years. She pointed out that despite treating approximately 500 children monthly in the emergency department, only 40 to 50 are usually admitted to the hospital.

Yet, such numbers don’t fully represent the wing’s value; during the pandemic, the pediatric unit was used for COVID-19 patients, and beds have been allocated to adult patients during post-pandemic years.

This arrangement isn’t ideal, as adults and pediatric patients aren’t always compatible, she noted, while also emphasizing the hospital’s ongoing demand for more patient beds.

“They desire those beds for other patients but seem to disregard the little ones,” she added.

Another anonymous pediatric nurse mentioned that the ongoing discussions about the wing’s potential closure have already prompted some staff to seek other employment, including positions at Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, the only other hospital in Sonoma County with a pediatric inpatient unit. Other regional hospitals lack such services as well.

In the past year, Memorial Hospital’s pediatric wing cared for 507 children and over 300 so far this year. While it’s acknowledged that pediatric patients may not always occupy all the beds, the wing often takes on children recovering from surgery who don’t require overnight care, along with pediatric transfers from other hospitals within Northern California.

Following the closure of the maternity ward at Petaluma Valley Hospital, the pediatric wing has seen an increase in overflow cases of mothers and newborns, the nurse noted.

Dr. Milana PeBenito, a family medicine physician, alerted the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors regarding the potential closure of the pediatric wing. She pointed out that many hospitals are scaling back on inpatient pediatric services. Preventive health measures, including vaccinations, have led to fewer hospitalized sick children. In contrast, financial pressures related to low reimbursement for pediatric services are causing hospitals to close unprofitable units, she explained.

Dr. PeBenito highlighted that Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital admits over 400 children yearly from Sonoma County and surrounding areas, with 85% of them covered by federal Medicaid insurance. The closure of the pediatric wing could mean that approximately 240 children each year would need to be transferred to the nearest inpatient pediatric facilities in Oakland or San Francisco.

She noted that while Providence faces significant financial hurdles—largely due to a high percentage of Medicaid patients—it’s not solely their fault. “Every hospital is currently navigating a challenging financial landscape,” she added.

In his recent statement, Olney noted that Providence cannot “do everything.” He said that as they look toward the future, it’s important to focus on what they can do effectively, which may mean recognizing that a different organization could be better suited to provide certain services within the community.

Providence later affirmed that the pediatric wing has eight licensed beds, with an average of two patients admitted daily, most of whom stay less than 48 hours. They clarified that for over two decades, most of the pediatric cases that arrive at the emergency department are not admitted to Memorial but are instead assessed and stabilized before being transferred to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, reiterating that no final decisions have been made yet.