The Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center delivers critical maternity care, supports the regional economy, and serves a population large enough to sustain long-term operations.
As Chair of the Coalition for Newport Hospital Birthing Center and Co-founder of Moms Over Margins, I'm pleased to announce the publication of a white paper that clearly articulates what our group of community advocates, medical professionals, and concerned residents have long maintained: local maternal care is essential to the health, safety, and equity of our community. Developed in collaboration with Primary Care for All Americans, SEIU 1199NE, Women's Resource Center, the Newport Health Equity Zone, and Newport Partnership for Families, this report thoroughly examines what's at stake, presents unique findings based on an analysis of publicly available data, and offers thoughtful recommendations to sustain the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center in the long-term.
Cassie Voll, Co-Founder of Moms Over Margins, Chair of the Coalition for Newport Hospital Birthing Center
- Provides vital in-hospital maternity care for women on and around Aquidneck Island: With Rhode Island’s relatively small number of hospitals providing maternity services, maintaining hospital-based local maternity services at Newport Hospital plays a significant role in sustaining access to timely obstetric care for the region’s population.
- Serves a population more than sufficient to sustain it: The Birthing Center delivers close to 500 babies annually, with more than 300 recorded in just the first half of 2025 alone. It is the third-busiest labor and delivery unit in Rhode Island, and the only unit with a consistent straight-A rating in reports released by the Leapfrog Group.
- Contributes substantially to Newport County’s economic health: The direct economic impact of the Birthing Center is an estimated ~$2.7M annually. With the output multiplier of 1.9, the ripple effects of this direct impact total $5.1M in overall economic activity in Newport County.
While Brown University Health's announcement that they will keep the Birthing Center open represents an important step forward, questions remain about Brown's specific plan to ensure the longevity and sustainability of the Birthing Center. We hope that this report serves as the beginning of an open and transparent dialogue with the leadership at Brown University Health and Newport Hospital about not just sustained investment in the Birthing Center, but a robust, long-term strategy that meaningfully incorporates community feedback in decision-making about this vital regional resource.
- Cassie Voll, Co-Founder of Moms Over Margins, Chair of the Coalition for Newport Hospital Birthing Center
As maternity services continue to disappear nationwide, the report concludes that protecting the Newport Hospital Birthing Center will be critical to maintaining equitable access to maternity care for families across Aquidneck Island and the East Bay.
Report authors include: Primary Care for All Americans, SEIU 1199NE, Moms Over Margins, Women's Resource Center, Newport Partnership for Families and the Newport Health Equity Zone - all part of The Coalition for Newport Hospital Birthing Center
To arrange an interview re: report findings, contact momsovermargins@gmail.com
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The Coalition for Newport Hospital Birthing Center is broad coalition of community, labor, womens’, neighborhood, business, and healthcare organizations serving the State of RI and Newport County. is dedicated to protecting and sustaining access to local, high-quality maternal and newborn care for Newport County and Aquidneck Island families. We advocate for the continued operation of the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center at Newport Hospital, recognizing its essential role in community health, public safety, and equitable access to care.