Bart Pfankuch

South Dakota News Watch

The elimination of birthing services at Winner Regional Health hospital will force dozens of expectant mothers in a wide swath of south-central South Dakota to drive one to two hours on rural highways to give birth under the care of a doctor.

Ending the hospital's labor and delivery services came only after "a lot of tears and sleepless nights," but the difficult decision was ultimately the correct one, according to hospital CEO Brian Williams.

When all factors were considered – especially the high cost of the service and a lack of qualified providers – the decision to end birthing services at the small, independent hospital starting Feb. 1, 2025 boiled down to patient risk and safety concerns, he said.

"The unfortunate thing is we weren't doing the safest things for everybody involved," which included expectant mothers and their babies, Williams said of the hospital that delivered 107 babies in 2024. "This was a horrible decision for us and for the community."

When it comes to maternity, traveling long distances on country highways requires more planning and more time, two things that can be hard to find during the uncertain hours surrounding a delivery. Facing an hourlong drive or more also creates greater risk to both mother and child if any complications arise.

"Anytime someone has to travel in pre-labor or active labor, it could cause a negative outcome," Williams said. "Obviously the closer you are (to a birthing hospital) the better off you'll be."

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This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email to get stories when they're published. Contact Bart Pfankuch at .