Rachel Silberstein reports for the Times Union that while activists continue to work to keep the Burdett Birth Center in Troy open, St. Peter’s Health Partners on Oct. 23 said it would delay the closure date of the only birthing center in Rensselaer County. In June, St. Peter’s executives announced the closure of the facility, but they later agreed to a Health Equity Impact Assessment, an analysis of a community survey before a hospital reduces or eliminates a service. Dr. Steven Hanks, president and CEO, St. Peter’s Health Partners and St. Joseph’s Health, said, “The information we have received from this Health Equity Impact Assessment has been most valuable in highlighting the community concerns surrounding the closure of Burdett Birth Center.” If the Burdett Birth Center is closed, there would not be any maternity ward in Rensselaer County. There already are no birthing services in Greene and Columbia counties. More than 750 community members, leaders, health care providers and parents contributed opinions for the survey, with 98 percent opposing the closure. The study’s authors recommend St. Peter’s pay the full cost of travel expenses for patients with no access to transportation and St. Peter’s should adopt Burdett’s midwifery model, which is popular with patients. But Ashley Saupp, working to keep the birthing center open, said, “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.... Our own assessment revealed 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.” Attorney General Letitia James said, “I am pleased that the decision has been made to delay the closure date, and my office will continue to do everything within our power to ensure this essential facility remains open.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.