ST. FRANCIS MED CENTER MAY OFFER OBSTETRICS

St. Francis Medical Center is taking a close look at offering obstetrics again. The news should come as no surprise to the community. When merger talks between St. Francis and Southeast Missouri Hospital ended last year, Cape Girardeau's two hospitals went back to full-blown competition.

In considering obstetrics, St. Francis is simply answering the call of many in the community who said competition brings expanded services and more opportunities. Obstetrics is really one of the last main services available only at one hospital in town.

St. Francis wants to become a full-service hospital, which is a goal in its strategic plan. Adding obstetrics may be a simple business reality. St. Francis is no stranger to maternity services. It delivered babies and offered other obstetric services from 1925 to 1966, ending its services shortly before it moved to the west side of town.

St. Francis is a Catholic hospital. It is tied to a church that believes life is sacred and encourages married women to have babies. It only follows that such a hospital would want to serve those needs as well.

Delivering babies is not necessarily a money-maker for hospitals. Southeast Missouri Hospital delivered about 1,600 babies in 1999, and its 28-bed obstetrics unit had an average occupancy rate of 30 percent.

But offering obstetrics is regarded by most hospitals as an important first link in establishing lifelong relationships and generating patient loyalty.

At one time, obstetric services were common in smaller hospitals around the region. But with the rising costs of obstetric insurance and other legal considerations, a number of doctors and smaller hospitals are shying away from delivering babies. More of the demand is being shifted to the larger hospitals where greater expertise and enhanced facilities exist.

If Cape Girardeau's hospitals could merge, the issue of duplication of services could be addressed. But as separate businesses, their boards have no choice but to compete like any other company in town. Hopefully, this competition will afford patients a higher level of care and services at both Cape Girardeau hospitals.