STURGIS, Mich. (WOOD) — Sturgis Hospital is eliminating its hospice and child birth services and closing its oncology treatment center, leading to dozens of layoffs.

The hospital announced the cuts Thursday as part of a restructuring plan focused on outpatient services. Approximately 60 full-time workers will be affected, but the hospital says some of those people may move into other vacant positions.

“It hit me hard,” a Sturgis Hospital nurse who asked not to be identified told 24 Hour News 8. “My stomach was upset.”

She said she’ll likely lose her job.

The hospital says the cuts will take effect Monday and include:

Closing hospice services

Reducing inpatient medical/surgical services (Four inpatient beds will remain)

Closing obstetric services

Adjusting the staffing and structure of the emergency department

Closing the oncology treatment center

The nurse told 24 Hour News 8 the birthing center will be closed by Dec. 31 and that could leave expectant parents with limited choices. When asked what will happen to mothers expecting to deliver at Sturgis Hospital after that, she said, “Well, that’s the question.”

The nurse said it’s at least a half an hour to the next closest birthing center. 24 Hour News 8 found centers in Three Rivers, Coldwater and Kalamazoo. Other options are in Indiana.

“What about those moms that don’t know that they’re dilating?” the nurse asked. “And the fastest place to go would be Sturgis. Are you going to deliver in your car on the way to Three Rivers, hoping that you get there in time?”

She worries about expectant mothers who have already made arrangements to deliver in Sturgis.

“I mean, they’re going to have to transfer and find a new OB/GYN, find a new place to deliver,” she said. “Can you imagine these girls that are due in January and they have to go find a new OBGYN and it’s so stressful. They don’t need that, being pregnant and not knowing what’s to come.”

In a news release posted on Facebook, Sturgis Hospital President and CEO Robert LaBarge said the hospital has tried to reduce costs and adapt to the continually changing health care industry.

“The old ways don’t work for a small hospital any longer, so we have to embrace new ways of doing things. It’s time to restructure our operations in a way that is consistent with what we believe the future of health care will be for rural communities,” he stated.

Sturgis Hospital says it started making cuts 18 months ago because reimbursements from Medicare, Medicaid and other insurers have not kept pace with the increasing hospital costs. Sturgis Hospital also blamed a drop in patient visits.

Sturgis Hospital says it has already closed unprofitable departments including its wound clinic, home health, pain clinic and urgent care center in Constantine.

LaBarge says the organization must first get on financially sustainable footing before moving forward with its plan to invest more in outpatient services, which accounts for approximately 80 to 85 percent of the hospital’s business.

Outpatient services that will remain after initial restructuring include:

The emergency department

Family doctors, internal medicine physicians and surgeons

Outpatient surgery

Diagnostic radiology

Laboratory services

Urgent care

Rehabilitation services

Sleep medicine center

Cardiac rehabilitation

LaBarge says Sturgis Hospital wants to partner with other health systems for inpatient and specialty medical services.