Statement: Office of Health Strategy Approves Independent Birthing Center Study with Windham Hospital, Protects Maternal and Infant Health

(HARTFORD, CT) - Guidehouse, Inc. will launch an independent study of the need for a birthing center in the Windham hospital catchment area next week under the terms of an agreed settlement between the Office of Health Strategy (OHS) and Windham Hospital. OHS has approved the statement of work for the feasibility study required under the settlement.

OHS required the study as a condition designed to protect reproductive health in the greater Windham community when the agreed settlement allowing the hospital to terminate inpatient obstetric services was finalized through the Certificate of Need (CON) application process.

OHS has worked closely with Windham Hospital to ensure the study, to be conducted by Guidehouse, Inc., is carried out as an independent assessment of supply and demand for as well as financial viability of a freestanding birthing center. OHS has ensured that the process will be accessible for community members who would like to provide input.

The agreed settlement negotiated by OHS also requires Windham Hospital to facilitate a community forum in collaboration with Guidehouse, Inc. to share and discuss the study findings with the community. If the final report finds that a birthing center is a feasible option for the community, Windham Hospital will be required to either operate a center or find another provider to operate the center.

OHS also required other conditions to protect maternal and infant health through the agreed settlement including requiring Windham Hospital to:

• provide community access to pre-natal and post-partum care
• provide emergent and non-emergent transportation for birthing families to the hospital where they choose to deliver
• ensure William W. Backus Hospital maintains labor and delivery services and a Level I Well Newborn Nursery and expands Special Care Nursery/NICU beds
• formalize the role of certified doulas at system hospitals and establish a training program for certified doulas

Guidehouse, Inc. will begin the feasibility study later this month. Members of the public will be invited to participate in the process. As more information about opportunities to participate becomes available, OHS will provide updates.

All documents related to Windham Hospital's CON application can be found in the OHS CON portal under Docket #20-32394-CON.