The Miles Delivers Action Coalition has released a comprehensive visioning document proposing a five-year plan to transform MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital’s Miles Campus Family Birth Center into a nationally recognized destination for rural maternity care, workforce development, education, research, and innovation.

For 85 years, the Family Birth Center has served families across Lincoln County, earning a reputation for exceptional, family-centered maternity care. Like many rural hospitals nationwide, MaineHealth is currently evaluating closing the unit amid workforce challenges and shifting healthcare delivery models. Since 2010, more than 550 rural hospitals across the country have closed their labor and delivery units. The coalition argues Lincoln County does not have to follow that trend.

“Rarely do the need, the resources, and the community align at the same moment. Today, they do,” the coalition’s vision document states.

The proposal outlines nine strategic priorities, including increasing annual births to 250–300 by 2031, expanding local maternity services for moderate-risk pregnancies, launching a Birth Concierge Program for every patient, and establishing Miles as Maine’s premier rural obstetric training site. The plan also calls for the Center to become MaineHealth’s rural innovation laboratory and a national demonstration site for sustainable rural maternal and infant healthcare.

The coalition estimates the fully realized vision would require approximately $31 million in investment phased over five years, drawn from a blended portfolio of federal, state, philanthropic, and MaineHealth funding, and notes the project could be scaled or phased depending on available resources.

The coalition is inviting physicians, certified nurse midwives, nurses, researchers, educators, donors, and community members to join the effort as founding clinicians or founding donors, and to help shape the initiative going forward.

“Rural healthcare is changing. The question is whether MaineHealth will lead that change or follow it,” the coalition said.

The coalition emphasizes that the vision can only move forward if MaineHealth chooses partnership over closure. Until a decision is made, the group says it is focused on building a network of clinicians, donors, and community members prepared to support the project.

Learn more at milesdelivers.org or contact milesdeliversactioncoalition@gmail.com.