How We are Prepared for OB Related Emergencies

As part of our new regional care model, Los Alamos Medical Center will continue to ensure that pregnant and postpartum patients receive timely, safe emergency care close to home, supported by clinical guidelines and protocols, staffing education and training, and enhanced regional partnerships.

What Patients Can Expect in a Pregnancy-Related Emergency

For patients who are pregnant or have delivered a baby within the past year:

Immediate evaluation and stabilization. Our emergency department will provide prompt medical screening, evaluation, and stabilization.
Trained teams and specialized resources. Our staff will remain trained in recognizing and managing pregnancy and postpartum-related emergencies, with obstetric and newborn supplies readily available in the emergency department.
Evidence based care. Standard protocols will continue to guide care for pregnancy-related conditions, postpartum complications, and newborn emergencies.

Coordinated Access to Advanced Obstetric Care

When patients need a higher level of obstetric or maternal-fetal care:

Timely and coordinated transfers will be arranged to trusted regional obstetric hospitals, including CHRISTUS St. Vincent, Presbyterian Espanola Hospital and other appropriate partners.
Care transitions will prioritize safety, communication, and continuity for both mother and baby.

Ongoing Training and Emergency Readiness

Our emergency physicians, nurses, and care teams will continue to receive ongoing education focused on pregnancy and postpartum emergencies, including:

High blood pressure and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
Serious maternal infections
Unexpected or rapid deliveries
Newborn stabilization and resuscitation
Severe bleeding after birth

This training ensures our teams are prepared to act quickly and effectively in critical situations.

Helping Patients Know When to Seek Care

We will continue to invest in patient and community education, so families know when and where to seek help. Educational resources will emphasize warning signs that require immediate care and attention, including:

Heavy bleeding
Severe headache, vision changes, or sudden swelling
Chest pain or shortness of breath
Fever or signs of infection
Severe abdominal pain
Decreased fetal movement
Signs of labor or concerns after delivery

Special Delivery Postpartum Wristband Program

The Special Delivery postpartum wristband program will remain an important tool to help recently delivered patients:

Recognize warning signs after childbirth
Communicate recent delivery history to healthcare providers
Seek emergency care without delay when symptoms arise

Our Commitment to the Community

Looking ahead, Los Alamos Medical Center remains committed to working with regional partners to ensure safe prenatal and postpartum and emergency care locally and expanded access to advanced maternal health services when needed—supporting mothers, babies, and families at every stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Los Alamos Medical Center is transitioning to a new regional care model for OB services in June. Our patients will continue to receive outpatient prenatal, postpartum and gynecological care at our Los Alamos Women’s Health clinic and will deliver at CHRISTUS St. Vincent, Presbyterian Española Hospital or another hospital of the patient’s choice starting June 28. Our Emergency Room will continue to be prepared to safely care for pregnant and postpartum patients with emergent obstetric-related needs.

Through this new regional approach, we are protecting access to these critical healthcare services, while maintaining the highest standard of safe, quality care for those who live and work on the Hill.

Why is this happening?

Over the past few years, births at our facility have declined significantly as more local patients have begun seeking care off the Hill. Last year, LAMC had less than 25 deliveries and we are projected to deliver even less in 2026. This shift in demand has made it increasingly more difficult to recruit and retain staff and providers with the necessary skills and training to safely and appropriately provide these services.

Our medical staff leaders have encouraged our leadership team to explore new models of care that will help us more effectively and sustainably weather ongoing changes in staff and communities’ needs in the years ahead to ensure that our patients always have access to the care they need close to home.

Why are we partnering with CHRISTUS and what does it mean?

CHRISTUS has an established and growing presence in Los Alamos and has experience in affiliating with hospitals like ours for OB services. Located in Santa Fe, its hospital CHRISTUS St. Vincent has a large specialized maternal care program with maternal-fetal medicine, neonatal intensive care unit, resources for high-risk pregnancies and more.

Our new affiliation and transfer agreement formalizes how LAMC and CHRISTUS St. Vincent work together to provide OB care, providing clear protocols for safe, timely transfers, shared clinical resources and consistent communication.

Why are we partnering with Presbyterian Española Hospital and what does it mean?

As the closest hospital with OB services to LAMC — less than 20 miles and 30 minutes of travel time — Presbyterian Española Hospital offers comprehensive prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum support and high-risk pregnancy management. Services include breastfeeding support, family planning, 24/7 care for babies and nurse case management.

We are in the process of finalizing agreements that formalize how LAMC and Presbyterian work together to provide OB care, providing clear protocols for safe, timely transfers, shared clinical resources and consistent communication.

How will Los Alamos Medical Center care for pregnant and postpartum patients in an emergency?

Los Alamos Medical Center is prepared to evaluate and stabilize pregnant and postpartum patients in our emergency department using established protocols, trained staff, and specialized supplies. If a higher level of obstetric care is needed, we coordinate rapid transfers to regional obstetric hospitals.

What types of pregnancy related emergencies can be treated?

Our emergency department is prepared to respond to pregnancy and postpartum-related emergencies such as heavy bleeding, high blood pressure, infections, unexpected or rapid labor, and urgent newborn needs.

Does the hospital have staff trained in obstetric emergencies?

Yes. Our emergency physicians and nurses maintain ongoing training focused on pregnancy and postpartum emergencies, including maternal stabilization and emergency newborn care.

What happens if I need care the hospital cannot provide?

If advanced obstetric or maternal-fetal care is needed, our team arranges a safe, timely transfer to a nearby hospital with full obstetric services.

How do patients know when to seek emergency care?

Patients are educated on warning signs that require immediate attention, including severe bleeding, chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache, vision changes, fever, decreased fetal movement, or concerning symptoms after delivery.

What is the Special Delivery postpartum wristband?

The Special Delivery wristband helps remind recently delivered patients — and emergency providers — that pregnancy-related complications can occur up to a year after delivery and may require urgent care.

Does LAMC intend to scale back other services? What’s next?

We are temporarily pausing gynecological surgeries at our hospital as we make this shift with plans to resume these services in the future. There are no plans to change or scale back other services at this time. We are focused on growing our services to meet the changing needs of our community and will continue to invest in services, technology and staff that advances our mission, including primary care, orthopedics, cardiology, gastroenterology and more.