07/01/2025
Letter from Retired Copley Birthing Center RN and Copley Board Member, Cameron Page
My commitment to Copley Hospital runs deep. I consider it a vital asset to the health care of our community. I worked there in the 1970s and '80s as a registered nurse, with my last position on the Birthing Center (then called Maternity). My late husband, Dr. Russel Page, served nearly 40 years as an Emergency Room physician. Our two children and my youngest brother were all born at Copley.
Though much has changed over the decades, Copley still feels like home. The professionalism and compassionate dedication of our staff remain constant. No one is treated as just a number at Copley.
I have served on Copley’s Board of Trustees since 2022. Before that, I spent 18 years on the Stowe School Board. What I’ve learned from both roles is this: the challenges in health care mirror those in public education. Both are highly regulated public services with complex funding mechanisms and escalating costs. These are not simple businesses where standard models can fix the problems.
Vermont’s declining birth rate is already impacting school enrollment and it now affects our ability to sustain maternity care. Meanwhile, an aging population and rising health care and property tax costs weigh heavily on many. Despite these pressures, our institutions have managed to remain afloat thanks to the tireless efforts of administrators and board members. But we are reaching the limits of what can be sustained through hard work alone.
The Vermont legislature recently passed an education bill to address funding, rising costs, and governance. Likewise, several committees in Montpelier are now focused on hospital costs and operations. One major study has been completed, and another is underway. Recommendations will follow. This is the climate in which we are operating.
In response to persistent revenue losses—nearly $4 million annually—and declining births, the Copley Board of Trustees, on the recommendation of the administration, voted to close the Birthing Center. It was an extremely difficult decision. Since the announcement, I’ve heard from many concerned and upset community members, and I’d like to address a few of the more common questions and suggestions I’ve heard.
Some have said Copley should continue subsidizing the Birthing Center—that we shouldn’t prioritize profitability over our mission: (improving community health and providing high-quality care, regardless of ability to pay). The truth is, we have been doing just that for several years and if our financial situation were less critical, we would continue. But ongoing losses, including those from the Birthing Center, threaten the entire hospital’s stability. If the hospital fails, we lose far more than one unit.
Others have asked why we don’t try harder to grow the number of births at Copley. While well-intentioned, this idea (again) runs up against the harsh reality of Vermont’s declining birth rate. In the end, we would simply be competing for fewer and fewer patients.
I’ve also heard concerns about why Mansfield Orthopaedics receives significant funding and marketing support, while the Birthing Center does not. Again, this is tied to demographics. While our birth rates continue to fall, demand for orthopedic services continues to rise, reflecting the reality that our population is aging. The last time I looked at the statistics, Vermont was the third oldest state in the US. Mansfield Orthopaedics not only meets a growing need—it also helps fund the rest of the hospital through its success as a profit center.
Another concern is that the Board of Trustees was passive or pressured by the CEO into this decision. That is unequivocally false. It is the CEO’s responsibility to ensure the sustainability of the hospital. The Board—comprising 17 unpaid members with diverse backgrounds, including nurses, a physician, financial experts, a legislator, business owners, and others—evaluates recommendations thoroughly. We ask hard questions, consider alternatives, and vote only after careful deliberation. This Board does not rubber-stamp anything.
Finally, some have said this decision “turns our backs” on future patients and jeopardizes the goodwill we’ve built over 90 years. To a degree, that’s true—and it weighed heavily in our discussions. Excluding any group from services is painful. But ultimately, we had to choose long-term sustainability over short-term sentiment. If we want Copley Hospital to be here for future generations, we must make decisions that ensure its survival.
All of us wish the outcome could have been different. But the financial and demographic challenges that have been building for years are now upon us. I understand the sadness, frustration, and fear in our community. I feel it too. But I firmly believe that without making this difficult choice, we would soon face far worse consequences.
While the Birthing Center will close on November 1, we remain deeply committed to the health of women and families. We will continue to support and expand the Women’s Center, providing prenatal, postpartum, and related GYN healthcare services to meet the needs of our community.
Cameron Page, RN, Copley Board of Trustees
