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The effort to keep open the maternity ward of Frick Hospital suffered yet another setback when the obstetrician it hoped to hire accepted another job offer.

Westmoreland Health System announced Friday that it will resume its search for a new obstetrician for the hospital because Dr. Daniel Nahhas, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, has taken a position at another hospital.

Nahhas, who also is an assistant professor at West Virginia University School of Medicine, had given a verbal commitment to join the Mt. Pleasant hospital earlier this month.

The hiring of Nahhas offered hope that Frick Hospital could continue its obstetrical services. But based on the dire staffing situation, the hospital soon may be forced to close its obstetrics unit, said Dr. Angelo DeMezza, chief medical officer of Westmoreland Health System.

The hospital currently has just two obstetricians, and one plans to leave the staff in October. That heightened the health system's two-year search for another obstetrician.

"With just one obstetrician remaining on staff, we wouldn't have the medical backup necessary to meet state requirements or our high standards for patient care," DeMezza said.

"The inability to secure the interest of obstetricians wanting to relocate to the area is greatly hindered by several unfortunate factors," he added. "Physician concerns about rising malpractice insurance costs in Pennsylvania are real."

When contacted last night, David S. Gallatin, acting CEO of the Westmoreland Health System, declined further comment and referred to the news release. "As the press release says, we're still looking," Gallatin said.

"It's disappointing; we thought we had one," said Greensburg Fire Chief Ed Hutchinson, who serves on the Westmoreland Health System's board of directors.

Frick Hospital would continue to provide prenatal and gynecological services. Pregnant women would be advised to schedule delivery at Westmoreland Regional Hospital. Frick and Westmoreland Regional are partner hospitals in the Westmoreland Health System.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology lists Pennsylvania among the nation's top nine "Red Alert" states because of the impact of the liability insurance crisis on the profession.

In addition to rising health premiums, the number of births and deliveries in Westmoreland County has declined sharply over the years.

Births decreased by about 300 per year since 1998, with an even steeper drop in neighboring Fayette County.

Frick Hospital has experienced a similar decline. Deliveries at the hospital in the last fiscal year fell to about 400 from 545 in 1998, despite the hospital's efforts to increase service offerings and usage.

Demographers project the number of women of child-bearing age in Westmoreland County will drop over the next five years.

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