DES MOINES, Iowa ( WOI ) - A Des Moines-area health care facility is expanding its OB-GYN team, but leaders say there is still a lot of work to be done to address shortages in the region, WOI reports.

Any county across the country can be labeled a “maternal care desert,” which is defined as an area without a hospital, birthing center or standalone OB-GYN office. However, in Iowa, one in every three counties holds that designation, according to the nonprofit March of Dimes .

Dr. Evan Olson practices in the OB-GYN department at the Iowa Clinic.

“There’s just a lack of OB-GYNs here in the state of Iowa,” Olson said. “We’re definitely seeing patients who travel long distances. We have quite a few patients who are traveling over an hour to see us.”

Experts say there is no single cause

See Full Page