Milford Regional Medical Center announced late Friday afternoon it plans to discontinue offering inpatient pediatric services, saying the hospital doesn’t receive the volume needed to support the service.
The hospital announced in September it faced a $9-million loss in operations for the year and was exploring all options — including changes to operations and personnel — to make up the deficit.
Milford hospital officials have notified the state Department of Public Health of its plans to stop offering inpatient pediatric services. There will be a public hearing on the matter before the changes go into effect.
Pediatric admissions accounted for 1 percent of Milford’s total patient admissions in fiscal 2016. The hospital has 10 licensed patient beds, but they are generally not in service, according to the hospital.
The hospital said it will rely on its collaborative arrangement with Boston Children’s Hospital to provide care for children at the medical center, and that they will be treated in a pediatric wing of Milford’s new emergency department.
