Los Alamos Medical Center Is Prepared When It Matters Most: Emergency Care for Moms and Babies
May 19, 2026
By Alan Heilpern, MD, Medical Director & Physician, Emergency Department &
Debra Temple, MHA, BSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, Los Alamos Medical Center
Pregnancy and childbirth are moments of great anticipation and joy – but they can also come with unexpected medical emergencies. As clinical leaders at Los Alamos Medical Center, we want our community to know this clearly: our hospital is and will continue to be prepared to care for pregnant and postpartum patients when urgent needs arise.
As we prepare to transition inpatient labor and delivery services to regional partners at the end of June, our emergency department will continue to play a critical role in maternal health. Our physicians, nurses and care teams are trained to quickly recognize and respond to pregnancy‑related complications – conditions such as severe bleeding, dangerously high blood pressure, serious infections, or unexpected labor. These situations are time-sensitive, and rapid evaluation and stabilization can make all the difference.
Our hospital follows standards set by the Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), along with clinical guidance from the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG). This means maintaining evidence-based protocols, ongoing training, and the necessary obstetric and newborn supplies so we are ready when minutes matter most.
When a patient needs a higher level of obstetric or maternal-fetal care, we act quickly – stabilizing and coordinating timely transfer to trusted regional hospitals with specialized labor and delivery services. This coordinated approach ensures patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Education is also an important part of improving outcomes. Complications can occur not only during pregnancy, but for up to a year after delivery. That’s why we continue to promote awareness of warning signs and support programs like our postpartum wristband – simple, effective tools that help patients, clinicians and community members recognize when to act quickly.
Emergency care is built on readiness, teamwork, and trust. Our commitment to this community is straightforward – when pregnant or postpartum patients come to our emergency department, they will be promptly evaluated, stabilized, supported and connected to the care they need – today and into the future.