Pregnant woman receiving a ultrasound scan on the stomach in hospital

Everyone at Open Door is saddened that Mad River Community Hospital (MRCH) is to close obstetrics (OB) services at the end of October. MRCH has served Arcata for over 40 years and many of us, our friends, family, and neighbors gave birth there.

Open Door has been preparing for this possibility for some years, to minimize disruption for our patients. Open Door continues to provide prenatal and post-partum care at our current health centers and our pregnancy services will not change.

As MRCH mentioned in its press release, the decision to stop offering services comes after several years of decline in the volume of the deliveries and the prohibitive cost of offering these services. Open Door patients will continue to receive care and treatment at MRCH, including gynecological surgeries and procedures.

Working with MRCH and Providence Health, Open Door will transition patients over to St. Joseph Health, in Eureka. From the end of October, Open Door will deliver at St. Joseph Hospital. We are grateful that St. Joseph Hospital can fill the gap in OB services left by MRCH.

As the largest provider of pregnancy services in Humboldt County Open Door is committed to meeting our community’s needs now and into the future.