For an unknown period of time, no one will be able to declare International Falls as their place of birth.

Beginning Oct. 1, late-term prenatal care and baby delivery services at  the Rainy Lake Medical Center clinic and hospital campuses will be temporarily halted.

“We’re not cutting OB/GYN forever,” said Angela Liedke, RLMC foundation and marketing coordinator. “We want babies born here — it’s an important part of our hospital.”

A shortage of doctors in the area providing prenatal care spurred the decision. Doctors will provide obstetrics, or OB, care until the patient’s 36th week of pregnancy. Prenatal care for the last four weeks of pregnancy will be referred to clinics and hospitals in Virginia, Hibbing, Bemidji and Duluth.

The referral location will be based on “whatever the patient feels most comfortable with,” Liedke said.

As the clinic is reduced from five doctors to three doctors who provide prenatal care, Essentia Health is “actively recruiting” doctors able to provide OB care to International Falls, according to Liedke. RLMC has been affiliated with the Duluth-based Essentia Health system since 2009.

RLMC former physicians Dr. Bobbi Schneller and Dr. Jesse Heuer, who had provided prenatal care, have resigned from the clinic. That leaves RLMC’s prenatal care team consisting of Dr. Samantha Crossley, Dr. Anthony Stone and Dr. Jeri Vergeldt.

The three remaining physicians made a collaborative decision to limit care to 36 weeks at both the clinic and hospital campuses, Liedke said.

“In thinking about patient safety, we decided on the 36-week plan,” Liedke told The Journal. “It is a transitional act until more physicians are recruited.”

Essentia Health and RLMC are making plans to provide a visiting physician to the area who would provide care past 36 weeks. Dr. Scott Johnson, an obstetrician from Essentia Health in Duluth will visit the area on a limited basis. RLMC leaders have not yet agreed to how often the physician will provide care in the Falls.

The Journal asked Liedke whether local doctors would deliver babies or provide emergency care in a situation in which the patient could not get to an out-of-town hospital. Liedke said, “I can’t answer that at this time.”

RLMC plans to direct any emergencies, such as inclement travel conditions while in labor, to their out-of-town OB/GYN for recommendations.

In the meantime, questions or concerns about the plan can be directed to primary care physicians at RLMC’s clinic campus at 283-9431 during clinic hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Liedke added that it is unknown when Essentia Health will be able to recruit physicians able to provide OB care full-time in the Falls.

“We don’t know when — it could be in two months, it could be next spring or next fall,” she said. “We’re hoping that it’s sooner rather than later.”