St. Charles Health System is considering a plan that would stop all baby deliveries in its Redmond hospital.

The move would mean that Central Oregon, which as recently as 2009 had four hospitals that delivered babies, would now have only two — St. Charles Bend, the area’s largest hospital, and Mountain View Hospital in Madras would continue their birthing services.

Still, the plan is far from definite.

“This is really, really early in the process of discovery,” said Dr. Jeff Absalon, St. Charles’ chief physician officer. “It may make sense, but we want to understand it fully before we take it any further.”

Absalon and other system executives met with obstetrical physicians late last week to discuss the potential move. News quickly spread to other physicians and nurses. “It’s a very emotional topic,” Absalon said.

He said patient volumes are one of the driving considerations behind the decision. St. Charles Bend has birthed fewer babies in recent years and this year is on track to deliver fewer than 1,500. A few years ago, it had more than 2,000 deliveries.

Redmond will likely deliver about 320 babies this year, Absalon said.

At the Bend hospital, “we’re well within our range to handle that capacity,” Absalon said.

He said efficiency, measured in staff and other costs, was also a consideration. He said he would not share data on the number of employees in the birth centers at either location, or the ratios of births to staff.

If St. Charles does move all deliveries to Bend, it would likely enhance prenatal services in both Redmond and Prineville, Absalon said. St. Charles operates a large family care clinic in Prineville, but it does not provide obstetric services there.

At least one Prineville physician, Dr. Laura Gratton, sees prenatal patients. Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Prineville stopped delivering babies in 2009.

More prenatal services could improve access for some patients, Absalon said. While the drive during labor could be longer than it is now, patients going to monthly or weekly prenatal appointments may be able to do so closer to home.

Absalon also said a substantial portion of patients in Redmond come to Bend to deliver, though he did not have an exact figure.

St. Charles Bend has more advanced newborn services than any hospital in Central Oregon, notably a neonatal intensive care unit.

St. Charles Redmond, however, just received an upgrade. A new Family Birthing Center opened in February, which provides jacuzzi tubs and sleeper beds for families. The hospital, too, announced plans several weeks ago to seek designation as a “Baby Friendly” hospital, which is given to facilities that encourage breast feeding.

Quality of care is not an issue, Absalon said. “We’re not aware of a quality problem,” in Redmond, he said.

Before any decision is made, Absalon said it will take more study and, if it makes sense, will go to the health system’s board of directors for final approval in several months.

There are currently no plans to hold community forums on the issue, but Absalon did not rule it out.

“No decisions have been made,” he said. “We haven’t even developed a road map.”