ICAHN Highlights Rural Hospitals Providing Labor & Delivery Services
MDH, Graham Among Those Recognized
As access to maternity care continues to decline in many rural communities, the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) is shining a spotlight on member hospitals, including McDonough District Hospital (MDH) in Macomb and Graham Health System in Canton, that continue to provide labor and delivery service, while emphasizing an important message: every ICAHN member hospital is prepared to care for pregnant patients experiencing an obstetric emergency.
Of the 20 rural hospitals in Illinois that offer labor and delivery services, eight are ICAHN members, providing expectant families with access to prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum services close to home. While these hospitals maintain dedicated labor and delivery programs, ICAHN leaders stress that the absence of a labor and delivery department does not mean a rural hospital is unprepared.
'Across rural Illinois, every minute matters during a medical emergency,' said Tracy Warner, executive director of ICAHN. 'We're incredibly proud of the hospitals that continue to offer labor and delivery services despite the significant financial and workforce challenges facing rural healthcare. At the same time, we want families to know that every ICAHN member hospital is prepared to provide emergency obstetric care when needed. Our hospitals train for these situations because providing safe, high-quality care close to home is at the heart of their mission.'
All hospital emergency department physicians, nurses, and clinical teams are trained to respond when babies arrive unexpectedly or when pregnant patients require immediate care before transfer or delivery, or come to the hospital seeking postpartum care.
'Every family deserves access to safe, high-quality maternity care close to home, regardless of where they live. Rural hospitals like McDonough District Hospital play a critical role in ensuring mothers and babies receive timely, compassionate care in their own communities,' said Melissa Onion, RN, BSN, CLC, interim Chief Nursing Officer/director of Obstetrics. 'We are proud to be one of eight ICAHN member hospitals to offer L&D services,' In addition to MDH, Graham Health System also was recognized. According to Graham President and CEO Ali Sours, Graham is dedicated to preserving access to safe, high-quality maternity care in rural communities.
'Our labor and delivery team welcomed 250 babies last year, and every birth represents a family's story,' Sours added. ' We're honored to be part of so many of those moments.'
To further strengthen emergency obstetric preparedness across rural Illinois, ICAHN has also partnered with MDH and Laerdal Medical to host a comprehensive four-part, hands-on simulation training series designed specifically for rural healthcare teams.
The series began March 10-11 with Precipitous Delivery & Neonatal Assessment and Stabilization, followed by Shoulder Dystocia & Neonatal Resuscitation on May 8-9. The third training, scheduled for Sept. 9-10, will focus on Precipitous Breech Delivery in the Emergency Department & Neonatal Assessment and Stabilization Simulation, while the fourth and final training, Nov. 17-18, will cover Pregnant Trauma Patient Simulation: Maternal and Fetal Assessment and Care.
'We are honored to partner with ICAHN as a regional maternal and infant training site, helping strengthen obstetric emergency preparedness and clinical excellence across rural Illinois,' Onion added. 'By investing in education, collaboration, and evidence-based care, we are building a stronger future for rural maternal health.'
Each simulation is intentionally selected to address a diļ¬erent high-risk clinical scenario that rural emergency departments and healthcare teams may encounter. By exposing participants to a variety of realistic obstetric emergencies, the series enhances preparedness, improves patient safety, and supports the delivery of high-quality care during these low-volume, high-acuity events. The trainings feature immersive experiences with Laerdal, allowing emergency department teams to practice managing critical obstetric emergencies in a realistic, hands-on environment.
The training program is supported by the Federal Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) State Partnership Grant and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
