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Allina Centralizes Childbirth Care in Southern Minnesota, Closing Faribault Birth Center Dec. 1

The shift follows Mayo Clinic’s withdrawal of on-call OB-GYNs in Owatonna, reflecting workforce shortages alongside low rural birth volumes.

Overview

  • Allina will assume on-call labor-and-delivery staffing on Nov. 17 to maintain births at Owatonna Hospital.
  • Faribault obstetrics physicians will cover extra shifts in Owatonna from Nov. 17–30 ahead of consolidation.
  • Inpatient deliveries move to Owatonna on Dec. 1, while Faribault continues outpatient prenatal, postpartum, gynecologic, newborn and pediatric services.
  • Faribault ends evening and weekend emergency surgical coverage Dec. 1 due to anesthesia staffing limits, and pediatric admissions end May 7, 2026.
  • Allina cites higher birth volumes in Owatonna and a regional OB-GYN shortage; the system is coordinating with the Minnesota Department of Health, and experts warn of longer travel in a state where 14 counties have already lost hospital-based obstetrics.