Petaluma Valley Hospital to initiate service interruption for obstetrics (OB) as of May 1, 2023

May 17, 2023 Providence News Team

The health and safety of our patients is our top priority. Despite strong efforts to permanently secure obstetrics (OB) anesthesia services and recruit physicians, the Petaluma Valley Hospital Family Birthing Center does not have the necessary staffing and resources to maintain OB services past April 30, 2023. For the safety of our patients, there will be a temporary suspension of labor and delivery services at the Family Birthing Center as of May 1, 2023, until further notice. As of May 1, Providence will not provide OB services at Petaluma Valley Hospital, and OB patients will need to use their choice of alternate facilities.

Petaluma Valley Hospital has a 24-hour emergency department (ED) and is able to take care of various emergency medical conditions, for which these conditions can be effectively treated and stabilized. For individuals who are pregnant or have vaginal bleeding, it is important to understand that we do not have OB anesthetists or OB/GYN physicians on staff. For those individuals who come to our ED, we will adhere to the federal guidelines that require us to perform a medical screening exam to determine if an emergency medical condition exists. If there is an obstetrical or gynecological emergency, then we will stabilize to the best of our ability and transfer these patients to a facility with the capacity and expertise to treat these emergencies. We have established a process in collaboration with 911, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the nearest facilities to effectively manage the transfer of patients.

Providence remains committed to providing high-quality care for South Sonoma County communities. We are taking actions that are necessary to ensure we will be able to provide high-quality, safe care for this community well into the future.


La salud y la seguridad de nuestros pacientes es nuestra máxima prioridad. A pesar de los grandes esfuerzos por garantizar de forma permanente los servicios de anestesia obstétrica (OB) y contratar médicos, el Centro Familiar de Maternidad de Petaluma Valley Hospital no cuenta con el personal y los recursos necesarios para mantener los servicios de obstetricia después del 30 de abril de 2023. Para la seguridad de nuestras pacientes, habrá una suspensión temporal de los servicios de parto y alumbramiento en el Centro Familiar de Maternidad a partir del 1 de mayo de 2023, hasta nuevo aviso. A partir del 1 de mayo, Providence no proporcionará servicios de obstetricia en Petaluma Valley Hospital, y las pacientes de obstetricia deberán usar los centros alternativos que elijan.

Petaluma Valley Hospital tiene un departamento de emergencias (ED) que está abierto las 24 horas. El departamento de emergencias puede atender diversas condiciones médicas de emergencia, que pueden tratarse y estabilizarse de manera eficaz. Para las personas que están embarazadas o tienen sangrado vaginal, es importante comprender que no contamos con anestesistas obstétricos ni médicos obstetras/ginecólogos en el personal.  Para aquellas personas que vengan a nuestro departamento de emergencias, cumpliremos con las pautas federales que nos exigen realizar un examen médico de detección para determinar si existe una condición médica de emergencia. Si se trata de una emergencia obstétrica o ginecológica, estabilizaremos a estas pacientes lo mejor que podamos y las transferiremos a un centro que tenga la capacidad y la experiencia para tratar estas emergencias. Hemos establecido un proceso en colaboración con el 911, los Servicios Médicos de Emergencia (EMS, en inglés) y las instalaciones más cercanas para gestionar eficazmente el traslado de pacientes.

Providence mantiene su compromiso de proporcionar cuidados de alta calidad a las comunidades del sur del condado de Sonoma. Estamos adoptando las medidas necesarias para garantizar que podamos proporcionar una atención segura y de alta calidad a esta comunidad en el futuro.

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