A North Texas hospital will no longer deliver babies as it heads into a new business direction.
RHD Memorial Medical Center in Farmers Branch has changed its name to Texas Hospital for Advanced Medicine and as of Oct. 1, pregnant moms who show up for service will be transported to other hospitals.
RHD, short for one-time owner Robert H. Dedman, has delivered about 400 newborns a year at its facility located off Webb Chapel Road and LBJ freeway. The management said that number is half of what it takes to be really good at deliveries.
"In this case we think there are other supportive hospitals in the community that can do this better," said Dr. Ira Korman, the hospital's new president.
With a new name and focus on other services, the hospital hopes to better compete in the world of health care. Korman said partnerships with high-tech manufacturers position the declining hospital for new advanced medicine specialties.
"We feel that the changes we're making will reverse the trend that the hospital has been in," he said.
The changes include new beds in the intensive care unit that speak in 24 different languages, play music to put patients to sleep and help them roll over.
"We think it's going to be better, definitely, and we're looking forward to it," said Phillip Cortopassi, a respiratory therapist.
But some people expressed concern about not being there for expectant moms who pull into the hospital off the freeway.
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"I really have some concerns about what will happen now when these patients appear and we no longer offer the service," said Sharon Greggs, an obstetrician/gynecologist who has delivered babies for nearly 20 years.
Surrounding city leaders who help over see the non-profit hospital have endorsed the changes.
"This, indeed, will provide a hospital that meets the needs of the community, better than where we were going in the past," said Farmers Branch Councilmember David Koch.
