TROY, N.Y. — St. Peter’s Health Partners is holding a virtual public open house on Thursday to discuss its plans for the closure of the Burdett Birth Center, the only maternity ward in Rensselaer County.

According to St. Peter’s officials, hospital leaders, doctors, nurses and midwives are expected to attend to provide additional insight on those plans.

MORE: ‘First of its kind’ study assesses proposed closure of the Burdett Birth Center

Last month, St. Peter’s Health Partners released a Health Equity Impact Assessment to determine how the closure of the Burdett Birth Center would impact the Capital Region.

According to the report, the Burdett Birth Center incurred $2.3 million in losses for Samaritan Hospital in 2022, with the service seeing losses annually as birth rates continue to decline.

The Save Burdett Birth Center Coalition responded to the assessment, saying it failed to address “significant challenges cited by the community that depends on Burdett Birth Center.”

“The Chartis assessment fails to adequately address the very concerns the community identified,” said Ashley Saupp, Save Burdett Birth Center Coalition Spokesperson. “For example, Chartis suggests St. Peter’s provide vouchers for local bus or taxi services to help patients reach other hospitals and states that the community can rely on EMS services for emergency delivery services.

READ: Advocates against Burdett Birth Center proposed closure denounce health equity report

“Our own assessment reveals that the local EMS is already overwhelmed and cannot take on additional trips to out-of-town hospitals. Moreover, buses and taxis are not available throughout Rensselaer County and do not run 24 hours a day when they are available.”

Tonight’s virtual open house will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You can join here. Stay tuned for updates.