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Unexpected pregnancy concerns need the right team. We have OB hospitalists ready.

OB Emergency Department

Name: Kootenai Health
Price range: $

Unexpected pregnancy concerns need the right team. We have OB hospitalists ready.

OB Emergency Department

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Four dedicated OB hospitalists, with 24/7 in-hospital coverage.

During pregnancy, even small changes can raise questions. If something brings you to the hospital unexpectedly, experienced obstetric care is already here.

At Kootenai Health, a team of four board-certified OB hospitalists provides obstetric care in the hospital 24 hours a day, every day of the year. If you need emergency or unscheduled hospital care during pregnancy and your primary OB/GYN isn’t available—or you don’t have one—an OB hospitalist will evaluate your symptoms, review your pregnancy history, and guide next steps for treatment or delivery.

Because they work directly within the labor and delivery unit and emergency department, OB hospitalists can coordinate quickly with anesthesiology, maternal–fetal medicine specialists, and the neonatal intensive care team if additional expertise is required. After your hospital visit, the hospitalist team shares information with your regular provider so your care can continue back in the clinic.

24/7, 365 Availability

Immediate care, day or night

Our round-the-clock model gives you immediate access to consultation, diagnosis, treatment, and delivery care—any time, any day.

4 Board-Certified OB Hospitalists

Advanced pregnancy care

Experienced physicians dedicated to evaluating and treating pregnancy-related emergencies.

Always Connected

Working in close partnership with your regular provider

Our hospitalists work closely with your primary OB provider, to keep your care aligned and consistent.

“Kootenai Health’s OB Hospitalist Program and Obstetric Emergency Department provide 24/7, on-site care for pregnancy, labor, and postpartum needs, ensuring rapid response for emergencies and high-quality support for patients and providers. Together, they offer a specialized, streamlined environment for evaluating and treating obstetric concerns, improving safety, coordination, and outcomes for mothers and babies.”

— Julie Meltzer - Physician, OB/GYN Hospital Medicine

Where Care Meets Expertise

Conditions

Our OB Emergency Department evaluates and manages a wide range of pregnancy-related concerns, including:

Labor evaluation and rule-out
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia
Vaginal bleeding
Rupture of membranes (your water breaking)
Pregnancy-related abdominal or pelvic pain
Postpartum concerns
Other urgent obstetrical conditions requiring evaluation by an OB/GYN

Diagnostics & Procedures

Every patient receives an individualized assessment by an experienced obstetrical team with immediate access to hospital resources.

OB triage and assessment by a board-certified OB/GYN hospitalist
Maternal and fetal evaluation
Labor assessment
Diagnostic testing as clinically indicated
Emergency obstetrical evaluation
Immediate access to imaging, laboratory, and surgical services when needed

Treatments

Our OB hospitalists collaborate closely with your prenatal care provider to ensure seamless care throughout your pregnancy and postpartum journey.

Diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy-related emergencies
Care for hospitalized high-risk obstetrical patients
In-house physician support during labor and postpartum
Emergency delivery when medically necessary

Explore Related Services:

Family Birth Center

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Maternal Fetal Medicine

HERE FOR EVERY STEP, FROM PREP TO DELIVERY

A welcoming place to bring your baby into the world, right here in North Idaho. Labor, delivery, recovery, and newborn care all come together in one dedicated space—with advanced support close by if you need it.

Explore the Family Birth Center

From Emergency to Joy: A Labor Day Baby’s Journey

Pregnancy can be unpredictable—and on Labor Day, Erica experienced it firsthand. After a sudden complication at 33 weeks, she was rushed to Kootenai Health, where the team acted quickly and decisively.

OB-GYN Brett Penney, M.D., and neonatologist Kathleen Webb, M.D., worked alongside nurses to deliver Elena Brynn via emergency C-section. Every step of the way, expert care and compassion ensured both mother and baby were safe. Today, Elena is thriving, a testament to teamwork, preparation, and exceptional pediatric care.

“If it hadn’t been for Lynn, Dr. Penney, Dr. Webb, the emergency response team and all the nursing staff at Kootenai, Elena and I wouldn’t be here today.”

— Erica, who delivered a baby girl via emergency C-section

Meet Your OB Hospitalists

These board-certified obstetric physicians focus their practice inside the hospital, providing immediate evaluation and treatment for labor, delivery, and urgent pregnancy concerns. Their experience in hospital-based maternity care helps ensure someone with obstetric expertise is available when unexpected situations arise.