Saint Margaret Mercy to Transition
Dyer Family Birthing Center Unit to Surgical Unit

Birthing services regionalized within the Northern Indiana Region
of the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc.

DYER, IND. - Saint Margaret Mercy’s South Campus in Dyer, Ind., announced today that the campus will no longer provide OB services effective July 1. A sharp increase in surgical volume coupled with a decline in deliveries has prompted the decision to transition the Family Birthing Center unit into a surgical unit in order to fulfill the community need for surgical services at the hospital’s South Campus. Saint Margaret Mercy’s North Campus Family Birthing Center remains fully operational.

“Our South Campus surgical volume continues to grow dramatically,” said Tom Gryzbek, president of Saint Margaret Mercy. “By reopening the unit as a surgical unit, we are able to increase surgical and bed capacity which is needed at present.”

The South Campus will continue to provide gynecological surgery. Birthing services have been regionalized with other facilities in the Northern Indiana Region of the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc. - Saint Margaret Mercy’s North Campus in Hammond and Saint Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point. Patients may continue to rely on the birthing services of the system at these facilities. Patients who require immediate obstetrical services and present at the South Campus would be stabilized in the Emergency Department and transferred, as appropriate.

Saint Margaret Mercy’s neonatologists have successfully regionalized their services in recent months. In addition to supporting Saint Margaret Mercy, they attend high-risk deliveries and cesarean sections at the other Northern Indiana Region hospitals, Saint Anthony and Saint Anthony Memorial in Michigan City.
Since January 2004, 11 surgeons have been appointed to Saint Margaret Mercy’s medical staff and practice at the South Campus. This continued growth is supported by the transition of the Family Birthing Center’s 16 beds and two surgical suites into a unit dedicated to the provision of surgical services. In addition, the private room environment is ideal for post-operative recovery.
“This transition is consistent with Saint Margaret Mercy’s mission to meet the needs of the community,” Gryzbek said. “I am confident we will continue to meet these needs as they have presented themselves in surgical volume with this transition. The South Campus continues to grow and is doing extremely well.”