Samaritan Temporarily Pauses Lebanon Labor & Delivery Services Due to Regional OB-GYN Workforce Shortage

Safety Plans Are in Place & Commitment to Restoring Services Remains Strong 

Samaritan Health Services announced today that labor and delivery services at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital will be temporarily paused beginning Jan. 15, 2026, due to a significant regional shortage of OB-GYN physicians that has made continuous inpatient coverage unavailable.    

This decision follows a series of unexpected physician departures across the Valley, including the resignation of OB-GYN physicians at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital and the simultaneous departure of OB-GYN physicians at another regional practice. Together, these events have created a regional workforce disruption that significantly limits available OB-GYN coverage.    

Despite extensive and ongoing recruitment efforts – including a broad national search, outreach to physician staffing agencies and independent clinicians, and exploration of temporary coverage options – Samaritan has not yet been able to secure the continuous inpatient physician call coverage required to safely operate labor and delivery services in Lebanon.  

“Patient safety is always our highest priority,” said Jennifer Kimberlain, vice president of patient care services at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. “Labor and delivery services require consistent, around-the-clock physician coverage. Without that, operating intermittently or repeatedly going on diversion would create confusion and risk for families who would not know when it is safe to present for care. This pause is temporary, and we remain fully committed to restoring labor and delivery services in Lebanon as quickly and safely as possible.”  

Following review and the recommendation of clinicians, nurses and operational leaders, Samaritan determined that a temporary pause is the safest course of action until appropriate clinician staffing can be secured.   

During this time, Samaritan will continue to provide outpatient OB-GYN care at the Lebanon Health Center located on Fifth Street on a limited basis and is hopeful that temporary clinician staffing may allow labor and delivery services to resume as early as April 2026.   

In the meantime, pregnant patients who are anticipating delivery after mid-January should work with their doctor to select a different delivery location. Labor and delivery services at Samaritan’s other hospitals will continue without disruption.   

Support for Patients, Families & Employees

To support patients and staff during this temporary pause, Samaritan has implemented several measures including:  

  • Providing individualized outreach and concierge support to help expectant parents transition care to Albany or Corvallis  
  • Implementing safe transfer protocols for urgent and emergent situations   
  • Keeping our highly skilled labor and delivery nurses onsite to assist the Emergency Department with any obstetric emergencies  
  • Partnering with the Oregon Nurses Association to explore temporary staffing solutions and redeployment opportunities for our nurses during this period—no layoffs will occur  

Earlier this year, Samaritan hosted more than 70 community and employee listening sessions and publicly reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining labor and delivery services at all five Samaritan hospitals. That commitment remains unchanged. This temporary pause is driven solely by patient safety and current workforce realities and is unrelated to the proposed affiliation or earlier service evaluations.  

We will continue to provide updates and share progress as we work toward restoring services.  Read an open letter about the temporary service pause from Marty Cahill, Samaritan President and CEO.

About Samaritan Health Services

Samaritan Health Services is a nonprofit regional health system that brings together five community hospitals, more than 100 physician clinics and multiple health insurance plans to serve more than 290,000 residents in Oregon’s Benton, Lincoln and Linn counties. Samaritan employs more than 5,000 workers including 620 clinicians and is governed by a volunteer board of community members and physicians.  

Frequently Asked Questions About the Temporary Pause in Services

Why is labor and delivery pausing at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital? 

A series of OB-GYN physician departures across the Valley–including the resignation of physicians at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital and the discontinuation of OB-GYN services at another regional practice–has created a significant staffing gap. Despite an intensified nationwide recruitment effort and pursuit of temporary coverage options, we have not secured the continuous inpatient physician coverage required to safely support deliveries. Patient safety is our highest priority, and without around-the-clock coverage, we cannot safely operate labor and delivery services.  

Is this a permanent closure of the Girod Birth Center?  

No. This is a temporary pause, not a closure. We remain fully committed to restoring labor and delivery services in Lebanon as quickly and safely as staffing availability allows.  

When will the pause begin and how long will it last?  

Labor and delivery services will pause starting January 15, 2026. We are hopeful services may resume as early as April 2026, but this depends on successfully securing appropriate and continuous clinical coverage. In the meantime, pregnant patients should plan to use the birth centers in Albany or Corvallis.  

Will outpatient OB-GYN care continue in Lebanon? 

Yes. Outpatient OB-GYN services will continue on a limited basis at the Lebanon Health Center located on Fifth Street. Additional outpatient OB-GYN services are available in Sweet Home, Albany and Corvallis.   

Why can’t Samaritan continue operating labor and delivery intermittently?  

Labor and delivery services require continuous, predictable physician coverage to be safe. Operating intermittently or going on and off diversion would create confusion and risk for families, who would not know when it is safe to come to the hospital. Clinical and nursing leaders determined that a temporary pause is the safest option until adequate staffing is secured.  

What is being done to solve the staffing challenge?  

Samaritan has expanded recruiting efforts to include an extensive nationwide search, outreach to staffing agencies, independent clinicians, health systems and other temporary coverage options. These efforts are ongoing and will continue until safe staffing is secured.  

How will patients be supported during this time?  

Safe transfer protocols are in place for urgent and emergent situations  

  • Highly trained labor and delivery nurses will remain onsite to assist with obstetric emergencies in the emergency department   
  • Expectant parents will receive individualized outreach and support to help transition care to Albany or Corvallis  
  • Samaritan is partnering with the Oregon Nurses Association to explore opportunities to support existing nurses during this period-no layoffs will occur  

How will this affect other hospitals?  

Samaritan Albany General Hospital and Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center will see increased patient volume. Teams at those locations are preparing to ensure safe, compassionate care for all patients.  

Does EMTALA still apply if a hospital is on OB diversion?  

Yes. EMTALA applies to all pregnant patients presenting to the ED, including those in active labor or with pregnancy-related emergencies, regardless of the hospital’s OB service status.  

What if the hospital cannot stabilize a patient during OB diversion?  

If patient stabilization isn’t possible within the hospital’s capabilities, an appropriate transfer to a facility with OB services is required.  

Where can patients and staff find updates?  

Updates will be shared directly with patients, staff and the community as this situation evolves.  

Why is this happening now?  

This pause follows a series of unexpected physician departures combined with a nationwide OB-GYN shortage. Despite extensive recruitment efforts, we cannot safely maintain labor and delivery services without adequate and continuous clinician coverage.  

What is Samaritan’s long-term commitment to OB-GYN services?  

Our commitment remains strong. Earlier this year, we held more than 70 listening sessions and publicly reaffirmed our promise to maintain labor and delivery services at all five Samaritan hospitals. That commitment has not changed. 

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