Closing of the Maternity Unit, The Birth Place

Southwest Healthcare Palmdale Regional Medical Center is proud to be a hospital of choice, providing high-quality medical services to the Antelope Valley and surrounding communities.

We continually monitor the ever-changing needs of our patient population and position ourselves nimbly to best serve the community. In response to community and insurance payer support for maternal care, Palmdale Regional opened a Labor & Delivery unit in 2021, with the intent that this unit would be a thriving center for maternal healthcare services. More recently, services were expanded to include a level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and obstetrical emergent care, in hopes that we would attract greater demand for Maternity services.

Unfortunately, Palmdale Regional has continued to experience lower than anticipated utilization of the Maternity services by the community. As a result, Maternity services will be suspended as of October 30, 2023.

Repurposing the Maternity Unit

The hospital will be repurposing the Maternity services unit for other, higher-demand healthcare services based on the mounting needs of the community. The decision to suspend the Maternity services due to lack of utilization came as the hospital has concurrently experienced significant increases in emergency volumes and surgical volumes. As a result, our medical-surgical floor and ER are regularly at capacity.

By converting the Maternity services unit to a medical-surgical unit, the hospital will continue to focus on the acute care needs of the city of Palmdale and greater Antelope Valley communities. All employees currently working in the Maternity unit are encouraged to apply for open positions at the hospital.

We will continue to innovate and work with our physicians, nurses and healthcare personnel to ensure residents of the Antelope Valley have the most relevant, advanced and high-quality healthcare the community has come to associate with Palmdale Regional Medical Center. The hospital will continue to expand on the training of physicians within the hospital, respond to the amputation crisis in the community, expand Cardiology services and improve access to lifesaving Stroke, Neurology and Neurosurgery services, as well as maintain centers of excellence in Joint Replacement, Weight-Loss Surgery and Rehabilitation services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will I still have access to my medical records?

Yes, you can access all medical records through our patient portal or the medical records department at the hospital.

Q: What will happen to the existing Labor and Delivery department?

The area will be utilized to meet the growing need of acute care beds in the hospital.

Q: What should I do if I am having an emergency related to my pregnancy?

Palmdale Regional continues to offer emergency room services. Our ER physicians, like all ER doctors, are trained to help with emergencies including basic issues related to pregnancy. When a higher level of inpatient care is needed, there are other hospitals in the community specialized to treat pregnancy-related issues.