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Two nurse-midwives are currently unable to deliver babies at a Lewiston, Idaho hospital. That’s because a physician stepped down from their support role. N-W-P-B’s Rachel Sun has more. :15

Certified nurse-midwives, Andrea Hedrick and Nicole Jones, will be unable to provide labor and delivery care at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center until at least August.

Jones and Hedrick both have privileges at St. Joe’s, but work for TriState Health, a hospital with no birth center just across the river in Clarkston, Washington. 

Jones, who started her career as a midwife after being Hedrick’s patient, says several patients are now planning to go to a different hospital.

JONES: “It’s been a hard week, that’s for sure. A lot of tears shed by our patients, (by) ourselves ... I know Audie is --  Multiple of her patients are returning patients.”

The midwives are required to have 24/7 backup coverage from doctors for hospital deliveries.

I’m Rachel Sun, reporting.