Sharon Hospital ordered to keep maternity services

Sharon Hospital ordered to keep maternity services

U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (D-5) spoke out against closing Sharon Hospital’s maternity unit at the Sharon Town Green Oct. 16, 2022.

Patrick L. Sullivan

SHARON — The state Office of Health Strategy (OHS) denied Sharon Hospital’s request to close its labor and delivery (L&D) services Monday, Feb. 5.

This is OHS’ final decision in a five-year fight between Sharon Hospital and members of the local community, led by grassroots organization Save Sharon Hospital, over the closure of the hospital’s labor and delivery services.

OHS determined that Sharon Hospital’s application for a Certificate of Need (CON) failed to meet the statutory requirements intended to protect the “quality, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness of care” in the region served.

“The applicant has failed to meet its burden of proof” that this closure would not negatively affect local health care, the office wrote, coming up short in meeting four of the six criteria set forth in state law:

— That the closure would be consistent with the Connecticut Statewide Health Care Facilities and Services Plan.

— That it would improve quality, access, and cost effectiveness of care.

— That the hospital had good cause for reducing access to services by Medicaid recipients or indigent persons — more than 48% of Sharon Hospital’s labor and delivery patients paid through Medicaid in 2021.

— That the closure would have no negative impact on the diversity of health care providers and patient choice.

The decision concluded: “Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Discussion, the Certificate of Need application of Sharon Hospital to terminate L&D services is hereby ordered DENIED.”

This decision in large parts echoes the OHS’ “preliminary decision,” handed down Aug. 29, 2023, which determined that L&D closure would failed to meet the agency’s criteria for a CON: “public need, access to care and cost-effectiveness.”

Sharon Hospital owner Nuvance Health appealed this proposed final decision Oct. 18. The brief and exceptions filed by the hospital argued, in effect, that the Sharon Hospital primary service area has less need for an operating maternity ward than it has for the cessation of financially unsustainable services.

On Nov. 8, 2023, Nuvance counsel Ted Tucci presented an oral argument for the closure of Sharon Hospital’s L&D services, saying that the proposed final “decision threatens Sharon Hospital’s ability to continue delivering care to Northwestern Connecticut.”

Nuvance Health originally filed a Certificate of Need to close the hospital’s maternity unit with OHS in January 2022, citing an annual loss of $3 million, staffing difficulties, and underutilization of the services as its key reasons for the proposed closure.

The $3 million loss at the hospital’s L&D unit contributes to the hospital’s overall annual losses of over $20 million.

In a brief statement to The Journal on Monday, Feb. 5, Sharon Hospital spokesperson Andrea Rynn wrote: “As a small community hospital within a non-profit health system, Sharon Hospital faces substantial financial and operational challenges to its continued operation of a Labor & Delivery unit.”

Since first announcing the intention to close the maternity ward in 2018, the hospital has faced stiff opposition from local community members led by grassroots 501(c)(3) organization Save Sharon Hospital.

Community members celebrated the state’s decision to maintain maternity services in Sharon.

Lydia Moore, president of Save Sharon Hospital, wrote her views in a statement to The Lakeville Journal: “We are so thankful and thrilled that the state has agreed with our community that the Sharon Hospital maternity unit must stay open! In its final decision, the state clearly shows its understanding that we need safe, high-quality, local access to labor and delivery, despite our rural location. Thank you to everyone in the community that helped us get here. It has been a long fight, but we did it!”

Rynn, on behalf of the hospital, said, “Sharon Hospital will continue to be transparent with our staff, community, and other stakeholders regarding our efforts to ensure the sustainability of Sharon Hospital.”

She said: “We will be considering all options available as we reassess our path forward.”

Latest News

Geer Village announces ‘strategic partnership’ with Integritus Healthcare

Geer Village Senior Community in North Canaan announced its partnership with the Mass.-based Integritus Healthcare on Aug. 7. Geer will remain the operator of the facility’s programs and services but joins the umbrella of 19 entities at Integritus Healthcare.

Photo by Debra A. Aleksinas
“This is the best possible scenario for the future of Geer.” Shaun Powell, CEO/CFO Geer Village Senior Community

NORTH CANAAN — For the first time in its more than 95-year history, the nonprofit Geer Village Senior Community will soon operate under a new management contract, although it will remain an independent organization.

A joint announcement of a “strategic partnership” between Geer Village and Integritus Healthcare, a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization and post-acute healthcare industry leader based out of Pittsfield, Mass., was made on Aug. 7.

Keep ReadingShow less
Deputies respond to political dispute at Fountain Square

AMENIA — Dutchess County Sheriff’s Deputies broke up a political dispute between two Amenia residents at Fountain Square in downtown Amenia on Tuesday, July 15.

Kimberly Travis of Amenia was conducting her daily “No Kings” anti-Trump administration protest at Fountain Square at 1:15 p.m. when Jamie Deines, of Amenia and candidate for Town Board in the Nov. 4 election, approached her.

Keep ReadingShow less
East Twin Lake
finds new hope 
as hydrilla fades

Gregory Bugbee, associate scientist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), where he heads the Office of Aquatic Invasive Species (OAIS), was a guest speaker at the Aug. 2 annual meeting of the Twin Lakes Association.

Debra A. Aleksinas

SALISBURY— A fierce and costly battle to halt the spread of hydrilla in East Twin Lake may have finally paid off.

All but three remaining small patches, one near the shoreline at O’Hara’s Landing Marina and two others in deeper water as boats exit the marina and head out, have been destroyed by this summer’s treatment with the aquatic herbicide fluridone, which began on May 20. None of the remaining plants are thriving.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lisa Mae Keller

LIME ROCK — Lisa Mae Keller of Lime Rock, Connecticut, passed away peacefully at her home on July 26, 2025, following a yearlong battle with cancer. Lisa remained at home between lengthy stays at Smilow Cancer Hospital – Yale New Haven. Throughout Lisa’s ordeal, the family home was a constant hub of love and support, with friends and relatives regularly dropping by. Their presence lifted Lisa’s spirits and helped her stay positive during even the toughest moments. The family remains deeply grateful to the community for their unwavering kindness and encouragement.

Born on June 2, 1958, in Bridgeport to Mae and Robert Schmidle, Lisa graduated from Newtown High School in 1976. Lisa first attended Ithica College to pursue a degree in fine arts concentrating on opera. Drawn to a more robust and challenging curriculum, Lisa transferred to Whittier College, Whittier, California earning a Bachelor of Science degree. It was in 1988 that Lisa met and married Robert (Rob) Keller in Newtown, Connecticut. Together, they embarked on a remarkable journey. The couple started small businesses, developed land in Litchfield County and welcomed in quick succession their sons Baxter and Clayton. The growing family discovered the long-abandoned historic Lime Rock Casino in 1993, while attending a race at Lime Rock Park. The couple found it difficult to commute for work while raising a family and restoring a vintage home. Lisa persuaded her husband that chimney sweeping was a noble profession, leading them to purchase the established business, Sultans of Soot Chimney Sweeps. She later leveraged her role into ownership of the largest U.S. importer of vintage Italian reproduction gun parts. Even as her entrepreneurial ventures expanded, Lisa continued managing the pick, pack, and ship operation for Kirst Konverter, though she sold the remainder of the business prior to her illness. Lisa will be remembered for her business acumen, community service, and being a trained vocalist with the Crescendo Coral Group of Lime Rock. Lisa tended the extensive gardens around the home and curated an art collection that adorns the walls within. Baking cookies was a passion. Countless cookie packages were sent world wide to each son and their military friends while deployed. It is still undetermined in the Keller house whether the Army or Marines leave less crumbs. At Christmas, the Lakeville Post Office staff would post over 80 packages of cookies to lucky recipients, while receiving a tray for their effort. Unable to bake cookies in her last year, Lisa selflessly compiled and self-published “ Pot Luck at The Casino”, a 160 page book of all of her favorite recipes, sent to everyone on her cookie list. It was a true labor of love.

Keep ReadingShow less