One rural hospital offers hope amid nationwide rural maternity ward closures

NPR | By Molly Castle Work

Published September 8, 2026 at 2:41 AM MDT

As more rural hospitals shut down maternity wards, one hospital in Minnesota has a survival strategy that could spur others to imitate it.

Tags

Morning Edition

Molly Castle Work

The Latest From Boise State Public Radio

Sheep Stories

The second season of Sheep Stories takes you deep into the archives to uncover the stories behind Idaho’s enduring sheep-ranching tradition. Listen, learn, and follow the trail into the stories that continue to shape sheep ranching in Idaho.

Listen Here

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.

Donate