Starletta Washington, who leads the YWCA in Troy, New York, was shocked when she heard the city's only hospital planned to close its birthing center. She was born at the hospital and had her own children there. Washington worried families would have to travel far for care or face emergency deliveries.
Troy is not alone. Since 2010, hundreds of maternity units have closed across the country. This happens as cities shrink and hospitals merge into larger systems. But Troy found a different path.
Community Unites to Save Birthing Center
Elected officials from both major parties, along with patient advocates, mothers, midwives, doulas, and community leaders, came together. They challenged Trinity Health, the large Catholic health system that owns the hospital. Even Planned Parenthood and the local Catholic diocese joined forces.
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Start Your News DetoxCarmella Mantello, Troy's Republican mayor, noted that the issue brought everyone together, regardless of their political views. People were united by frustration with large corporate health systems. They felt these systems often prioritize profits over patient needs. The community decided to work together to keep essential medical services in Troy.
A Valued Community Resource
Samaritan Hospital, where the Burdett Birth Center is located, has delivered babies for over a century. The Burdett Birth Center became known for its patient-focused care. Midwives and doulas work with OB-GYNs, supporting mothers who want to avoid C-sections unless necessary.
Surgical deliveries can lead to complications. At Burdett, about 25% of newborns were delivered by C-section, compared to about 33% statewide in 2025. Burdett also had fewer preterm births and low birth weight babies.
Lidia Zambrano-Madera, a Troy resident, had both her children at Burdett with a midwife. She said she wouldn't go anywhere else. For her, the center was also just five minutes from home.
Three years ago, Trinity Health, a large Michigan-based hospital system, announced the birth center was losing money and would close. Families would have to travel up to 30 minutes to another Trinity hospital in Albany. Steven Hanks, who oversees Trinity hospitals in the region, said they had to consider closing services due to consolidation.
Fighting Back Against Corporate Decisions
Trinity's closure plans came as a surprise to staff and community leaders. This sparked immediate outrage. Within days, midwives, mothers, and politicians held rallies. Volunteers handed out "Save Burdett" signs.
Activists argued the hospital had not considered the impact on low-income families. A community survey found that one in four Troy residents lacked a car, making travel to Albany difficult. The campaign highlighted the deep community connection to Burdett. Jessica Hayek, a doula and birth educator who helped lead the campaign, said people realized Burdett was a "gem."
Hayek and others also voiced frustration with Trinity, a large healthcare system with over $25 billion in revenue last year. Hayek noted that Trinity, based in the Midwest, might not understand the local community's needs.
Mayor Mantello, a Republican, also criticized the shift to a "more corporate type of atmosphere" in hospitals. Even the Catholic bishop at the time, Edward Scharfenberger, said the closure went against Catholic healthcare values.
A Bipartisan Victory
For months, Trinity Health executives insisted the closure was necessary and even sued the state. However, powerful state officials, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, joined the fight. They launched an investigation and held a public hearing.
State Assemblyman John T. McDonald III, a Democrat representing Troy, worked with Republican officials. Together, they secured $5 million in state funding to keep Burdett open. McDonald noted that Democrats and Republicans worked together because their job is to listen to the public.
Nearly a year after the initial announcement, Trinity reversed its decision. Burdett Birth Center would remain open. Lois Uttley, a researcher and activist, said Troy's success shows a growing distrust of large corporate healthcare organizations. She noted that promises of improved care and lower costs often go unfulfilled.
McDonald believes Troy's success offers a hopeful lesson. He said that by working together, people can achieve positive outcomes.
Deep Dive & References
Hospitals closed hundreds of maternity units - JAMA, 2024
