The independent review affirmed the quality and safety of care delivered by our clinical teams and outlined the additional investments needed to ensure the program remains strong and financially sustainable.”

Dr. Tenny Thomas, president of Newport Hospital

NEWPORT — Newport Hospital announced Friday that its Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center will remain open following an independent review and community input, but officials said the service will require about $4.9 million in additional annual funding to continue operating.

Hospital leaders said the funding would need to come from a combination of increased state support and philanthropy. An effort to secure those funds will begin immediately.

“Throughout this process, we have remained committed to transparency and to listening closely to our community,” said Dr. Tenny Thomas, president of Newport Hospital. “To ensure we received broad input, we convened a Community Advisory Panel (CAP), and I am deeply grateful to its members for their time, guidance, advocacy, and partnership.

"I am pleased that the Newport Hospital CAP members apprised of this news are supportive of remaining open while Brown University Health seeks additional state and philanthropic funding.”

The hospital engaged consulting firm Kaufman Hall to conduct a comprehensive review of the birthing center, evaluating perinatal quality and safety against national Level I standards, as well as the program’s long-term sustainability.

According to the review, the birthing center provides safe, quality care with round-the-clock obstetric, pediatric and anesthesia coverage. The assessment also identified areas needing additional investment, including workforce sustainability, preparedness for high-acuity, low-frequency events, and maintaining reliable operations in a low-volume setting.

Hospital officials said the findings establish a path forward to strengthen and sustain the program, contingent on securing the necessary funding.

“The independent review affirmed the quality and safety of care delivered by our clinical teams and outlined the additional investments needed to ensure the program remains strong and financially sustainable,” Thomas said. “State and philanthropic investments are essential to improving care across Rhode Island and maintaining quality local services, such as the birthing center.

"The call to action is that we need the support and advocacy of our community and policymakers to secure these resources so we can continue providing essential care close to home. This is about protecting access to care for families across our region. With continued partnership and support, we are confident in our ability to sustain this vital service for years to come.”

Founded in 1873, Newport Hospital is a 129-bed nonprofit acute care facility affiliated with Brown University Health. It offers a range of services including emergency and intensive care, surgical services, orthopedics, behavioral health, cancer care and diagnostic imaging.