\u201cEvery day. Legitimately, every day,\u201d Coon said when asked how often she has had to turn away callers because she is full.<\/p>\n
Caroline Jones, a certified nurse midwife and clinical director at Held Midwifery and Wellness in Lubbock, said the business delivered eight babies its first year open and more than 50 the next.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe definitely have seen an increase of calls coming in saying I don\u2019t know where I want to deliver, or that I even want to be at a birth center or out of hospital, but I can\u2019t get into an OB, or if I can get in, I can\u2019t get seen until 20-plus weeks,\u201d Jones said. \u201cAnd so, we\u2019ve gotten calls just inquiring about early pregnancy care.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Amber](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/44JAHRDDXFFUJME6WFAANYABSU.png\")
Amber Coon said her Facebook post about the situation has been shared more than 2,000 times.(KCBD Graphic)<\/p>\n
Jaylin Stevenson, who is 24 weeks pregnant, said she still hasn\u2019t been seen by a doctor. She said she previously went to Dr. Richards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was excited, I\u2019m like hey, she\u2019s been my doctor, she\u2019s delivered my first two. I would love for her to continue to do that,\u201d Stevenson said. \u201cAnd then they broke the news and said unfortunately, she\u2019s not taking more patients because she\u2019s leaving her practice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stevenson said she started going down the list of Lubbock OB-GYNs.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019m hearing the same thing: they\u2019re full until May, they\u2019re full until June,\u201d Stevenson said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m like wow, I\u2019m due in January like that\u2019s kind of scary, is there anyone available?\u201d<\/p>\n
Stevenson said she had complications including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies and is worried about using an on-call doctor for delivery.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour life is basically in someone else\u2019s hands and your child\u2019s life is basically in someone else\u2019s hands,\u201d Stevenson said. \u201cSo, that\u2019s kind of scary just to know what their experiences are, have they dealt with this before, what happens if an emergency happens and you need to be rushed in for a c-section.\u201d<\/p>\n
Responses from UMC and TTUHSC<\/p>\n
UMC Physicians issued a statement sharing Coon\u2019s concern about access to OB-GYN care in West Texas. Vice President of Business Development Aaron Davis said UMC Physicians, Texas Tech Physicians and other providers all have a role to play in meeting that need. Davis said UMC remains committed to working with TTUHSC and Texas Tech Physicians to find solutions that expand access and focus on patients.<\/p>\n
TTUHSC issued a statement saying it understands patients are concerned when they hear physicians may be leaving the community, but facts are important. It said Coon was never a TTUHSC employee and it cannot speak to why she is discontinuing employment with UMC Physicians. It said at no time was there any threat to remove her hospital credentials. It said OB-GYN Department Chair Dr. Sal LoCoco has recruited 15 obstetricians and other women\u2019s health specialists in two years.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did come to both myself and Dr. Richards and offer us positions there. But like I told you before, private practice has been my heart,\u201d Coon said. \u201cI love to deliver my own patients. It\u2019s my passion. It\u2019s my favorite part. The look of relief that is on their face during this super scary hard time when I walk in is just, it\u2019s everything. It\u2019s what I want in this career.\u201d<\/p>\n
She says that wouldn\u2019t be the same if she took a job with TTUHSC. She says it operates with a 24-hour on-call schedule, where that doctor who is on call for the day delivers all of the patients who come in.<\/p>\n
Coon said she is afraid speaking out will hurt her chances for employment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe statement I made I felt like had to be made, but I am absolutely afraid there\u2019s going to be repercussions,\u201d Coon said. \u201cI may not ever be able to practice at UMC again if they decide. And I\u2019ve been there for a long time. So, yeah, absolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stevenson\u2019s friend was able to call her doctor, who is going to be able to squeeze her in, after Coon\u2019s post was shared. She says it\u2019s an example of why awareness about maternal health care shortages is important.<\/p>\n
Full statement from UMC:<\/p>\n
\u201cUMC shares Dr. Amber Coon\u2019s concern about access to OB\/Gyn care in West Texas. Our community needs more physicians, and we believe UMC Physicians, Texas Tech Physicians and other providers all have an important role to play in meeting that need.<\/p>\n
We appreciate Dr. Coon\u2019s many years of service to our community and passion to serve patients. UMC remains committed to working collaboratively with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Texas Tech Physicians to find solutions that expand access to care and keep the focus where it belongs \u2013 on the patients and families we collectively serve. UMC\u2019s priority is to serve the community and ensure patients of West Texas have access to timely, high-quality care. We believe UMC Physicians has an important role in helping recruit and retain physicians needed for our community for OB\/Gyn and other specialties.<\/p>\n
We are hopeful that our organizations can work collaboratively toward that share objective.”<\/p>\n
-Aaron Davis, Vice President, Business Development<\/p>\n
The following statement was made on behalf of TUHSC:<\/p>\n
\u201cTTUHSC remains committed to expanding access to OB\/GYN care by partnering with UMC.<\/p>\n
OB\/GYN services at UMC are currently provided by the TTUHSC Department of OB\/GYN faculty and other private OB\/GYN physicians.<\/p>\n
We understand that patients are concerned when they hear that physicians may be leaving the community, but facts are important. Dr. Coon was never a TTUHSC employee, and we cannot speak to Dr. Coon\u2019s reason for discontinuing her employment with UMC Physicians. However, she expressed no interest in joining TTUHSC\u2019s Department of OB\/GYN when asked. At no time was there any threat to remove her hospital credentials.<\/p>\n
TTUHSC continues to pursue a partnership with UMC to expand our obstetrics practice and women\u2019s health specialty services in Lubbock. UMC has stated, however, that it prefers to retain control of a separate obstetrics practice.<\/p>\n
Since becoming the OB\/GYN Department Chair in 2024, Dr. Sal LoCoco has successfully recruited 15 obstetricians and other women\u2019s health specialists. We believe building on that progress through collaboration with UMC offers the best path to expanding access and meeting the community\u2019s needs.”<\/p>\n
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