FORT SMITH — The rhythmic hum of fetal monitors and the specialized care of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit are slated to go silent at Baptist Health-Fort Smith, as the hospital prepares to shutter its labor and delivery services by April 28.
The decision, announced by hospital leadership this month, marks a significant shift for the downtown campus.
Driven by a decade of declining birth rates, the hospital reported that monthly deliveries plummeted from an average of 92 to about 20 during the past five years.
“This was a difficult but necessary decision to ensure the long-term sustainability of our broader medical mission in the River Valley,” said a spokesperson for Baptist Health.
The closure will impact approximately 40 employees within the obstetrics and NICU departments.
While the hospital has expressed a commitment to transitioning these staff members into other roles within the system, the move leaves Mercy Hospital Fort Smith as the sole remaining provider of labor and delivery services in the city.
The exit from obstetric care is part of a larger strategic pivot. Baptist Health officials announced a concurrent $20 million reinvestment plan for the Fort Smith facility.
These funds are earmarked for modernizing the campus and expanding core services, including emergency care, cardiology, and oncology, to better align with the demographic needs of the region.
Current patients are being navigated through a transition period. The hospital stated it is coordinating with local physicians and Mercy Hospital to ensure that expectant mothers have a clear path for care as the 2026 deadline approaches.
