By RayAnn Hessenthaler, RNC, CLC
After 16 years as an obstetric nurse in our rural hospital, I’ve witnessed firsthand how essential
our maternal and newborn services are to the health and vitality of our entire community. As
healthcare systems nationwide face financial pressure and rural hospitals struggle to maintain
specialized services, I want to share why protecting and supporting our OB services isn’t just
important- it’s crucial to our community’s well-being.
The Reality of Rural Birth
The reality of rural healthcare is that distance isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a barrier that can
mean the difference between life and death. When complications arise during pregnancy or
delivery, seconds matter. A mother experiencing preeclampsia, a baby in distress, or an
emergency cesarean section cannot wait for an hour-long ambulance ride to the nearest city
hospital. Our local OB services provide that critical safety net that urban families take for
granted.
But it’s not just about emergencies. Regular prenatal care is the foundation of healthy
pregnancies and babies. When expectant mothers have to travel significant distances for routine
checkups, many simply skip appointments they can’t afford to miss work for, or don’t have
reliable transportation to attend. This leads to undiagnosed complications, higher rates of
pregnancy-related health issues, and ultimately, poorer outcomes for both mothers and babies.
I’ve also seen how our local OB services create a sense of community that extends far beyond the
hospital walls. The relationships we build with families often span generations. We’ve delivered
babies whose parents we also delivered years ago. We know our patients’ families, their histories,
and their unique needs in ways that distant, impersonal medical centers simply cannot replicate.
This continuity of care creates trust, improves health outcomes, and strengthens the social fabric
of our community.
Economic Impact on Families and Communities
Our local OB services support the health of our community in ways that extend outside the
delivery room. Young families are the driving force of rural communities. When couples know
they can safely start and grow their families here, they’re more likely to put down roots, buy
homes, support local businesses, and contribute to our local economy. Without these services, we
risk losing our next generation to urban areas where comprehensive healthcare is more readily
available.
The economic impact cannot be understated. Healthcare jobs are among the most stable and
well-paying positions in rural areas. Our OB services employ not just nurses and physicians, but
support staff, technicians, and administrators who spend their paychecks in our local stores,
restaurants, and service providers. When we lose these services, we lose more than just
healthcare – we lose economic stability and community vitality.
Beyond the Delivery Room
What many people don’t realize is that our local OB services are not just about the birth of the
baby. We provide comprehensive care that encompasses the entire journey of motherhood and
early childhood. Our team offers prenatal education, breastfeeding support, postpartum care, and
ongoing pediatric services that are crucial for healthy development in those critical first months
and years.
In the weeks following delivery, new mothers need frequent follow-up care to monitor their
recovery, address complications like postpartum depression, healing, family dynamic and
bonding, and ensure successful infant feeding. When these services are hours away, many
mothers simply go without this essential care. I’ve seen the consequences: untreated postpartum
complications, failed breastfeeding attempts that could have been successful with proper support,
and mothers struggling alone with issues that could have been easily addressed with local care.
Our community has seen tragedies involving young children and babies that solidify how crucial
follow up care is.
Our pediatric services also ensure that babies receive timely immunizations, developmental
screenings, and early intervention services when needed. These aren’t just conveniences – they’re
the building blocks of healthy communities. When children miss these crucial early healthcare
touchpoints because of distance barriers, we see higher rates of preventable childhood illnesses
and developmental delays that could have been caught and treated early.
The Domino Effect on Healthcare
The 24/7 coverage required for obstetric care also strengthens our emergency response
capabilities. The nursing staff trained in high-risk obstetric situations brings expertise in rapid
assessment, emergency protocols, and critical care that benefits all patients who come through
our doors.
Furthermore, hospitals often struggle financially when OB services close. Maternity care, while
challenging, helps support the hospital system as a whole. Without this service line, facilities
may be forced to cut other programs, reduce staff, or in worst-case scenarios, close entirely.
We’ve seen this devastating pattern repeat in rural communities across the country and right here
in Wyoming – first the OB unit closes, then gradually other services disappear, leaving the
community with no local hospital at all.
The Path Forward
The challenges facing rural healthcare are real and significant. We face staffing shortages,
financial pressures, and regulatory hurdles that our urban counterparts don’t experience to the
same degree. But these challenges are not insurmountable. With adequate support from our
community, healthcare systems, and policymakers, we can continue to provide the high-quality
obstetric care that our families deserve.
As healthcare professionals, we’ve made a commitment to serve our community, but we cannot
do it alone. We need community members to advocate for continued funding and support for
local OB services. We need policymakers to understand that rural healthcare isn’t just about
efficiency metrics – it’s about ensuring that geography doesn’t determine whether a family can
safely welcome a new life into the world.
Our rural community has always been defined by neighbors helping neighbors, by people who
understand that we’re stronger when we take care of each other. Supporting local OB services
isn’t just about healthcare policy – it’s an investment in our community’s future. Every baby
born here represents hope, continuity, and the promise that our rural community will endure for
generations to come.
As an OB nurse, I’ve had the privilege of being present for some of the most profound moments
in families’ lives. I’ve held the hand of nervous first-time fathers, coached mothers through
difficult labor, and celebrated with families as they welcome new life. But beyond these
precious moments, I’ve also been there for the emergencies, the complications, and the times
when quick action saved lives. I’ve experienced first-hand being cared for personally by staff at
Powell Valley Healthcare in my most vulnerable, and life changing moments. Choosing PVHC
for my healthcare needs has always been an easy decision not only for obvious reasons like being
employed there and proximity, but also because it is easy to trust your friends, fellow church
members, and neighbors that also happen to work as healthcare professionals at our local
hospital.
RayAnn is a registered nurse with 16 years of experience in obstetric care at Powell Valley
Healthcare. She was born and raised in Powell and lives here with her husband and three
children.
