We view the removal of maternal care at Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) as a direct threat to the safety and stability of our families. Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12, at 6:00 PM, the conversation moves from the living rooms of worried neighbors to the White Rock Fire Station 3, where the Los Alamos County Council will convene for a critical work session. We are calling on every resident to join us in White Rock to remind our leaders that the distance between “isolated” and “endangered” is exactly the 25 miles of mountainous road between us and the nearest delivery room. Local birth is not a luxury; it is the heartbeat of a functioning community, and it is time for our Council to fight for it as such.
This petition is a direct community response to Los Alamos Medical Center’s recent announcement that it will transition to a new obstetrics model that effectively ends labor and delivery services in Los Alamos. While the petition is formally addressed to LifePoint Health, residents believe the issue has significant implications for public safety, emergency preparedness, and long-term healthcare access within Los Alamos County.
Executive Summary: Community Response to LAMC Obstetrics Transition
The Core Issue
Community members are protesting the decision to discontinue local labor and delivery services and shift births to regional facilities in Española and Santa Fe. Residents argue that requiring pregnant patients to travel long distances over mountainous roads, including areas with limited cellular service, introduces additional risks during labor and obstetric emergencies.
Many residents view local maternal healthcare access as an essential public safety issue for an isolated community such as Los Alamos.
Key Concerns Raised by Residents
Emergency Response & Travel Risks
Residents describe situations involving precipitous labor, emergency deliveries, and pregnancy complications in which immediate access to local care was critical for maternal and infant safety. Community members are concerned that increased travel times may delay emergency treatment during labor or obstetric crises.
Stable Community Birth Rates
Petition organizers cite New Mexico Department of Health data indicating that Los Alamos County has averaged approximately 166 births per year since 2010. Residents argue that hospital delivery numbers may not fully reflect local demand because some patients report being redirected to outside facilities during periods of staffing instability or limited provider availability.
Concerns About Regional Capacity
Community members have also raised concerns regarding appointment availability, staffing shortages, and continuity of care within the proposed regional care model in Española and Santa Fe. Residents are asking whether surrounding facilities currently have sufficient capacity to absorb additional maternal care demand from Los Alamos County.
Professional Guidance on Rural Obstetric Care
The petition references guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), which has cautioned that closure of rural or low-volume obstetric units can create unintended maternal-health risks related to travel distance, delayed emergency response, and reduced healthcare access.
Requests & Proposed Solutions
Petition organizers and residents are urging LAMC leadership to work collaboratively with the County, healthcare professionals, and community stakeholders to explore alternatives before fully eliminating local labor and delivery services.
Specific requests include:
• Recruiting and retaining consistent full-time obstetric providers, including OB/GYN physicians, midwives, anesthesiologists, and neonatal support staff.
• Ensuring that the Emergency Room is fully prepared and explicitly staffed to manage obstetric and neonatal emergencies if labor and delivery services are no longer locally available.
• Preserving local prenatal, postpartum, and childbirth education services to support families within Los Alamos County.
• Increasing transparency regarding staffing challenges, patient redirection practices, emergency transport planning, and long-term maternal healthcare strategy.
Community Sentiment
The petition reflects widespread concern, fear, and frustration among residents who view labor and delivery access as a vital community service. Many residents believe that when maternal emergencies occur, proximity to care can determine outcomes for both mothers and newborns.
Residents are asking County leadership to recognize maternal healthcare access not only as a hospital operational issue, but also as a broader public safety and community infrastructure concern for Los Alamos County.
The petition and Los Alamos Reporter article the activated the community is here
added: some research on expected pushback from Council members or lobbyistst- https://dusoma.com/what-can-los-alamos-council-do-about-lamc-ld/