DAMARISCOTTA — In an Aug. 6 news release, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital said it will move forward with a new regional model for women’s health services that preserves comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care in Damariscotta, expands local gynecologic services and transitions inpatient Labor and Delivery services to MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital effective Dec. 18, 2026.

The model was endorsed by the local board overseeing MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital and the MaineHealth Coastal Region Board and ratified on Aug. 6 by the MaineHealth Board of Trustees.

As part of that action, the MaineHealth Board of Trustees also committed that MaineHealth will not close any additional Labor and Delivery programs anywhere in the health system during the next two years, according to MaineHealth. At the same time, MaineHealth calls upon the next governor and Legislature to bring together hospitals, clinicians and other stakeholders to identify solutions to the challenges of labor and delivery services in rural communities. 

"The Board’s commitment to not close additional labor and delivery services for the next two years reflects MaineHealth’s belief that the challenges facing rural maternity care extend far beyond any one hospital and are best addressed through collaboration among clinicians, hospitals, communities and policy makers. MaineHealth will continue its leadership in initiatives including the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies program, Maine’s CMS Transforming Maternal Health initiative and other statewide collaborations focused on workforce development, emergency preparedness, simulation training, regional partnerships and innovative models of care," said the news release.

Under the new regional model, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital and MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital will operate as one coordinated regional OB/GYN and certified nurse midwife team, "giving patients access to a broader clinical team while allowing them to receive all care other than Labor and Delivery close to home," said MaineHealth.

While MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital will become the primary hospital for Labor and Delivery services under the regional model, patients who prefer to deliver at MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital or another hospital of their choosing will also be supported in transferring their obstetrical care, said MaineHealth. Care teams will work closely with each patient throughout pregnancy to develop an individualized plan that reflects their clinical needs, preferences and choice of delivery hospital.

Comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care will continue at Lincoln Hospital, including prenatal consultations, antenatal testing, obstetrical ultrasounds, postpartum care, fertility services, lactation support, childbirth education and postpartum counseling. Lincoln Hospital also plans to expand local gynecologic outpatient and surgical services, addressing an important and growing need within the community.

The decision follows an extensive, months-long assessment that included clinical and operational review, community engagement, careful deliberation and input from a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses and hospital leaders.

“This new model is designed to strengthen women’s health care for Lincoln County over the long term,” said Cindy Wade, RN, BSN, MHA, president of MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital. “By working as one regional team with MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital, we can continue providing prenatal, postpartum and gynecologic care locally while connecting patients to a larger clinical team when it is time to give birth. We recognize that changes to long-standing hospital services are deeply felt, especially by those who have advocated for and supported this care in our community. We are grateful to the patients, providers, care team members, community partners, elected officials, members of the Miles Delivers Action Coalition and many others who shared their perspectives and helped inform our assessment throughout this process.”

The regional model is intended to provide safe, reliable clinical coverage, improve continuity for patients and strengthen recruitment by bringing together OB/GYN physicians, certified nurse midwives and other members of the care team across Lincoln and Mid Coast hospitals, according to MaineHealth. It also creates an opportunity to expand gynecologic care in Lincoln County, where access has been limited by ongoing provider recruitment challenges.

Birth volumes at MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital have remained low, reflecting broader demographic trends and patient preferences, and are expected to decline further, said the release. Today, more than two-thirds of pregnant patients in Lincoln County deliver at hospitals other than Lincoln Hospital.

Despite sustained recruitment efforts—including many of the approaches suggested by community members during public listening sessions and in written submissions—Lincoln Hospital has not been able to establish the stable physician and clinical staffing needed to safely support a reliable 24-hour Labor and Delivery program. Providing maternity care requires a team of physicians, nurses, anesthesia professionals and support staff who are consistently available to respond to routine deliveries and life-threatening emergencies at any hour. Following its assessment, management concluded it could not identify a staffing model capable of providing safe, reliable care over the long term.

The regional model reflects principles advanced through Maine’s Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies work, in which MaineHealth physicians and clinical leaders have played an active role. Those efforts emphasize strong regional partnerships, coordinated transfers, continued access to local prenatal and postpartum care, workforce development and ongoing emergency preparedness for pregnant and postpartum patients in rural communities.

The transition is being planned carefully to support patients and care team members. Patients currently receiving prenatal care at MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital will continue working with their care teams to develop individualized birthing plans that reflect their needs and preferences for Labor and Delivery services. The December implementation date was selected to allow patients already well into their pregnancies to maintain their existing delivery plans whenever possible and exceeds the State of Maine’s requirement to provide 120 days’ notice of the transition.

MaineHealth will work closely with affected employees to identify opportunities within the organization, including positions at MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital and throughout the health system.

“We pursued every reasonable path we could identify because this decision was never about whether Labor and Delivery matters—it absolutely does,” said MaineHealth Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mueller, MD. “It came down to one responsibility: determining whether we could continue providing safe, reliable care for every mother and every baby, every day and every night.

“Providing obstetrical care requires highly specialized teams that are available around the clock and prepared to respond immediately to routine deliveries and unexpected emergencies. We concluded that we could no longer consistently ensure that level of staffing and clinical coverage at Lincoln Hospital over the long term. That is an extraordinarily difficult conclusion to reach, but it is one we believe is necessary to fulfill our responsibility to our patients.

“The Board’s commitment not to close any additional Labor and Delivery programs anywhere in the MaineHealth system during the next two years reflects our belief that the next chapter in strengthening rural maternity care should build upon – not pause – the important work already underway.  MaineHealth has long been an active partner in that work, and we are calling upon the next governor and Legislature to bring together hospitals, clinicians and other stakeholders to identify sustainable solutions for rural communities.”

MaineHealth maintains its commitment to expanding access to care in Lincoln County through its significant investment in oncology and infusion, Lincoln Hospital operating room expansion, and the recent opening of the Waldoboro Primary Care practice.

Additional information, including the Labor and Delivery assessment and frequently asked questions, is available here.

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s in Portland, MaineHealth Behavioral Health in Westbrook, MaineHealth Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include MaineGeneral Health in Augusta and Waterville. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.