LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Sutter Lakeside Hospital has temporarily closed its birth center due to lack of an obstetrician and is diverting patients to other hospitals around the region until next week.
In a written statement released to Lake County News on Wednesday evening, Sutter Health said it does not currently have inpatient obstetric service capabilities.
“While we anticipate the situation will be resolved within a week, we are also actively working with community resources to help patients access appropriate care and to facilitate transfers to other hospitals as necessary. Other hospital services, including emergency services, remain open and ready to care for the community,” the statement said.
Sutter Health media relations manager Monique Binkley Smith told Lake County News that the hospital has been on “diversion” since 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Binkley Smith said Sutter was in the process of notifying patients of the situation.
The closure of Sutter Lakeside’s Birth Center leaves only Adventist Health Clear Lake as an available option in Lake County for deliveries.
On Wednesday, the Mother-Wise — The Village Facebook page posted a message stating that the group had been notified by Sutter Lakeside staff that morning that the birth center had closed due to no provider availability.
The group said the hospital reported it would be diverting patients to other hospitals until 7 a.m. Wednesday, July 27.
Hospitals where patients are being diverted included Adventist Health Clare Lake, Kaiser Santa Rosa, Queen of the Valley in Napa and Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, the group reported.
Expecting parents are urged to contact their obstetricians’ offices to get additional information.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Sutter Lakeside Birth Center closed temporarily; patients being diverted to other hospitals
- Elizabeth Larson
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