Minnesota effort aims to address gaps in rural maternal health care

FARGO — More than 700,000 Minnesotans live in counties without a hospital where babies are delivered. But a new statewide effort aims to address growing gaps in rural maternal health care. Since 2010, Minnesota has lost more than 20% of its hospital-based obstetric services. More than 67,000 women of childbearing age live more than 30 minutes from a labor and delivery unit. And longer travel times have been linked to higher risks of complications during childbirth. Dr. Johnna Nynas, an OB-GYN at Sanford Health in Bemidji, said her region of northern Minnesota has lost four delivery units, prompting new approaches to care. "We actually leaned into the problem and we decided, What can we do differently to bring care to women instead of women to care?'" Nynas said. The new project will examine access to maternal health care across Minnesota and identify ways hospitals can work together. It's part of a broader initiative backed by $15 million from Sa