Oh No! Small Town South Dakota Hospital Cuts Labor & Delivery

If there are expecting families in the Sioux Empire who are welcoming a new life soon, a small South Dakota hospital is no longer offering labor and delivery services.

Winner Regional Health made the shocking announcement about eliminating the labor and delivery services just before the New Year.

Get our free mobile app

Canva

This is not the best news for new South Dakota moms. They're already stressed out enough.

This service will no longer be offered at Winner Regional Health beginning Saturday, February 1st.

So why will Winner Regional Health in Winner, South Dakota no longer offer labor and delivery services? Officials with Winner Regional Health say there are "ongoing challenges in recruiting physicians and difficulties with reimbursement." Even though this vital service will not be offered, Winner Regional Health will still support new families during their pregnancy journeys.

"While this change is necessary, we want to reassure you that our clinic will still provide prenatal and postnatal care to support you throughout your pregnancy and postpartum journey."

This major shift is not the greatest news to hear, and the Facebook post from the Winner Regional Health shows that some patients and residents are disappointed by this news:

So very sad for the community as now the women have to travel far from home and family. Closest Sanford hospital is Chamberlain or head to Sioux Falls.

What!? That's kind of scary... it's a long ways in labor to anywhere now I guess. Goodness. That's terrible news

Unfortunately, rural communities are and will continue to struggle to bring practitioners, nurses, etc., as healthcare and staffing as a whole, is in crisis. This is a trend that is being seen across the nation.

It will be harder now for rural families to get the treatment they need. So yes, this is sad news from the Winner Regional Health.

Let's hope we can get more doctors and experts in rural communities like Winner, South Dakota.

A Survival Guide For Winter in South Dakota

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the rest of the Sioux Empire (AKA southeastern South Dakota) are welcoming thousands of new residents every year.

Many of you new folks will be experiencing your first eastern South Dakota winter. While it doesn't usually get as bad as our Dakota friends up north, I speak from experience when I say it can get a little rough.

MORE: What Every South Dakotan Should Be Doing to Prepare for Winter

So, to help ease you into winter in Sioux Falls and South Dakota here are some winter survival tips:

Gallery Credit: RESULTS-TOWNSQUARE MEDIA SIOUX FALLS

20 Things You'll Find In Every South Dakota Home

We have so many things in our homes. Some things are junk or half-used but others have great sentimental value to us.

Regardless of what an item means to us at the end of the day, I bet that most South Dakotans have these twenty items in their home; or at least most of us do.