FORT WAYNE – Two Northeast Indiana birthing centers will be closing.

Parkview Health announced Friday that it will close the birthing centers at its Parkview LaGrange and Parkview DeKalb hospitals.

In a media release, Parkview Health officials say across the country, rural hospitals have experienced ongoing challenges in ensuring sustainable access to high-quality obstetrics services. Locally, Parkview Health has always focused on high-quality care, and will soon begin a new approach to ensure long-term access to services for moms and babies throughout our region.

Parkview Health says research shows that ensuring the accessibility of high-quality prenatal and postnatal care is essential to the health of moms and babies. In September, Parkview Health will begin implementing a new care model with that goal in mind.

The release says although labor and delivery will no longer be available at Parkview LaGrange or Parkview DeKalb, these services will be available at other Parkview hospitals to ensure the continuity of care.

Parkview will continue to offer labor and delivery services at Parkview Noble Hospital, along with several other locations.

To ensure a seamless transition, Parkview has already begun contacting expecting mothers to coordinate their care plans and tour nearby Parkview Family Birthing Centers. All impacted family birthing center co-workers will be offered similar roles within the health system