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Lawmakers Announce Grassroots Effort to Save OBs
Springfield, IL....A bi-partisan group of lawmakers on Thursday kicked off a new grassroots campaign to engage women in the fight to save Illinois obstetricians. State Representative Ruth Munson (R-Elgin) announced the creation of the Save Our OBs coalition and the launching of the coalition's new website.
"Women have been especially hard-hit by our health care availability crisis," said Munson. "While there has been tremendous discussion on this issue over the past few years, nothing has been accomplished. Meanwhile, obstetricians continue to leave our communities and expectant mothers' access to care continues to erode. It is clear that public pressure is going to be needed to move this issue forward and that is the goal of our new coalition."
"As the father of a young son and a second child due in June, I know how important my wife's obstetrician was in her care and the care of our first born. I want to guarantee all families have access to quality care during this critical period of development for their unborn children," said Rep. David Miller (D-Dolton). "If we continue to lose OBs in Illinois we will lose the giant steps forward we've taken in improving women's healthcare in our state."
Munson passed a resolution in 2004 creating the bi-partisan Illinois Obstetricians Task Force to protect the health of women and their babies by ensuring that there will be obstetricians in our state to provide healthcare services. Because of the special legislative session, the task force met only twice before its legislative authority expired. Unfortunately, efforts to reinstate the task force have failed and the threat to women's health and that of their unborn babies continues to grow.
"Unfortunately, our problem didn't expire with the task force and a lot of work still needs to be done. With the assistance and support of women and physicians across Illinois we will find a solution," added Munson.
The coalition takes a two-pronged approach to solving our ob/gyn crisis in Illinois: fact finding and public outreach. Legislative members of the coalition will be asked to survey hospital officials and medical professionals in their district. Women throughout the state will be able to contribute their stories and experiences on the coalition's new website saveourOBs.com. The websites will also offer surveys for medical students, residents, physicians and patients.
The coalition is enlisting the help of women's organizations like the YWCA and Women in Management to educate their members. On the website, groups will be able to access power point presentations, petitions, sample letters and postcards and other outreach materials.
"Our growing shortage of obstetricians is forcing expectant mothers to travel farther and wait longer for the care they need," said State Representative Ron Stephens (R-Greenville). "Theirs are the voices that need to be heard in this debate. Through these outreach efforts we will make sure they are heard."
"The trend of obstetricians fleeing our state is placing the health of mothers and babies at serious risk. Inaction is not an option," said House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego). "Enlisting the personal support of women and organizations will help us to push the dialogue forward toward a resolution to this crisis."
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