TROY, N.Y. — State Assembly member John T. McDonald III, a Democrat, played a crucial role in securing $5 million in state funding to prevent the closure of Burdett Birth Center in Troy, New York. Like many in this aging industrial city, Starletta Washington was shocked by the hospital’s plan to close its birthing center. Washington, the head of the local YWCA, expressed concern that families would need to travel half an hour or face emergency deliveries. “Nobody else was going to be born in the city of Troy unless they were born on a city bus, in the back of a cab, or, disgustingly, on the side of the street?” she said.
Since 2010, maternity units have closed across the country due to hospital consolidations in shrinking cities and towns. Troy seemed destined for a similar fate, but the community had a different story to tell.
Washington and other community leaders, patient advocates, and politicians from both major parties united against Trinity Health, the Catholic health system planning the closure. “This literally brought everyone together,” said Carmella Mantello, Troy’s Republican mayor. Citizens came together to keep crucial medical services available in their community, showcasing a rare bipartisan effort focused on patient needs rather than profits.
A Community Institution
Samaritan Hospital, home to Burdett Birth Center, has been a staple of Troy for generations. The birth center is known for patient-focused care, reducing cesarean sections and improving neonatal outcomes. “I wouldn’t go anywhere else,” said Lidia Zambrano-Madera, who delivered her children at Burdett and valued its proximity to her home.
Three years ago, Trinity Health announced plans to close the financially unviable center, leaving families to travel to Albany for deliveries. Steven Hanks, overseeing Trinity hospitals, pointed to financial pressures driving consolidation decisions.
Corporate Backlash
The closure plan, initially leaked through local news, incited a public outcry. Midwives, activists, and residents rallied, distributed “Save Burdett” merchandise, and surveyed the community’s transportation woes. Jessica Hayek, a birth educator, underscored Burdett’s importance beyond financial metrics. “Trinity Health is in the Midwest, and they are not in the community,” she said.
Community frustration wasn’t limited by political affiliation. Republicans like Mantello felt the shift to a corporate atmosphere degrading patient care quality. Even a local Catholic bishop criticized the closure as contrary to healthcare values.
A Bipartisan Solution
Despite initial resistance from Trinity Health, the closure plan faced formidable opposition. New York Attorney General Letitia James launched an investigation. State Democrat McDonald collaborated with Republican counterparts to secure funding and pave the way for keeping Burdett open. “You had a Democrat and a bunch of Republicans all working together,” McDonald noted, emphasizing public will.
Lois Uttley, a healthcare activist, highlighted the growing skepticism toward corporate healthcare promises that often go unfulfilled. Troy’s triumph illustrates community resolve and bipartisan collaboration as viable solutions to healthcare challenges.
In Troy, there’s hope for unity beyond political divides, as McDonald suggests: “If we take down our swords and put out our arms, maybe we can get something done.”
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