Finding Care in New York

Finding an OB/GYN in Putnam County: Making the Most of a Small County

By the Find Her Doctor editorial team · Updated November 1, 2026 · 5 min read

Putnam is the smallest county in our directory, so finding an OB/GYN here usually means choosing among a handful of local practices, or widening your search into northern Westchester or Dutchess County. Our directory lists 11 OB/GYNs with a Putnam County practice location, among 21 women's health providers, including 7 midwives and certified nurse midwives.

In practice, most Putnam families end up with a mix: routine visits close to home, and a drive down the Taconic or I-684 for anything specialized. Here's how to set that up well.

What our directory lists in Putnam County

Browse them all on the Putnam County page, or jump to Putnam OB/GYNs.

Where the providers are

Counting practice locations in our directory:

• Carmel (14 locations)
• Putnam Valley (5)
• Cold Spring (3)
• Brewster (2)

Carmel is the hub, largely because that's where the county's hospital is. If you live in Cold Spring or Garrison, a Carmel practice can be as far as one in northern Westchester, so compare drive times, not just county lines.

Putnam Hospital

Putnam Hospital in Carmel is the county's hospital. It was part of Nuvance Health, which merged into Northwell Health in 2025. Its birthing center paused deliveries in 2022 when its physician group left and reopened in early 2023, which is a good reminder not to assume. Call the hospital, and ask any obstetrician you're considering: "Where do you deliver right now?"

Questions to ask about any delivery hospital:

• Does it have labor and delivery and a newborn nursery?
• What level of newborn care does it offer, and where would my baby be transferred if needed?
• Is it in network for my insurance?
• How long is the drive from my house at rush hour, and in snow?

Midwives in Putnam

Midwives make up a big share of Putnam's women's health providers. Certified nurse midwives provide prenatal care, attend births and handle routine gynecology like annual exams and birth control. They work with OB/GYNs, so a physician can step in if a complication comes up. Browse Putnam County certified nurse midwives.

When to look beyond Putnam

With a small local pool, many residents get some or all of their care in neighboring counties. That's especially common for:

• High-risk pregnancy. Our directory lists 1 maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Putnam. Northern Westchester has more, and Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla is a state-designated Regional Perinatal Center, the highest level in New York's system.
• Fertility care. Our directory doesn't list a fertility specialist in Putnam. Westchester has 19.
• Urogynecology and complex surgery. These subspecialists are mainly in Westchester and New York City.

Helpful next reads:

• Finding an OB/GYN in Westchester County
• Finding an OB/GYN in Dutchess County

A common setup is a local OB/GYN or midwife for routine care, with specialist visits in Westchester when needed. Ask your provider how they coordinate with outside specialists, and whether ultrasounds and lab work can be done close to home so you're not driving 40 minutes for a blood draw.

Getting around

• Driving is the main option. Routes 6 and 22, I-84 and the Taconic connect Putnam to Westchester and Dutchess.
• Metro-North. The Harlem Line serves eastern Putnam, including Brewster, and the Hudson Line serves western Putnam, including Cold Spring and Garrison. Both run south toward White Plains or Yonkers and on to Manhattan.
• Telehealth. Our directory lists 5 Putnam providers who offer telehealth. Many follow-up visits, lab reviews and birth control check-ins work fine by video.

Tips for choosing a Putnam OB/GYN

• Call early. Small practices fill up. Call soon after a positive pregnancy test.
• Plan for labor timing and weather. Back roads and winter storms slow you down. Do a practice drive to your hospital, and know the backup.
• Confirm insurance for the practice and the hospital, especially if you'll see specialists in another county.
• Use the search filters. In search, set the area to Putnam County, then try Westchester and Dutchess for more options.

Routine gynecology close to home

For annual exams, Pap and HPV tests, birth control and menopause visits, Putnam's OB/GYNs and midwives can usually meet your needs locally. Midwives often have more open appointments for new patients. Our directory also lists 1 gynecologic oncologist with a Putnam location.

Insurance when your care crosses county lines

• Confirm each provider you see, in any county, is in network for your exact plan.
• Confirm your delivery hospital is in network.
• If you have Medicaid or the Essential Plan, ask whether the practice takes your managed care plan.
• If you're uninsured, a hospital financial counselor can help you apply. New York's pregnancy Medicaid has a higher income limit than regular adult Medicaid.

Postpartum care close to home

Even if you deliver outside Putnam, you can often do postpartum visits, lactation support and birth control follow-up locally. Ask your delivering provider early who'll see you after the birth. Two weeks postpartum is not when you want to be figuring that out.

Before your first appointment

• Write down your history. Past pregnancies, surgeries, chronic conditions, medicines and the first day of your last period.
• Request old records. Ask your previous provider to send them, including recent Pap results and ultrasound reports.
• Bring your insurance card and ID, and ask in advance about the first-visit copay.
• List your questions. Ask about the delivery hospital, after-hours coverage and how to reach the office. See our questions to ask a new OB/GYN.
• Ask how records get shared with specialists in Westchester or Dutchess.

Questions Putnam patients often ask

Can I see a Westchester OB/GYN but deliver closer to home? Usually not. Your OB/GYN delivers where they have hospital privileges. If you want a particular hospital, choose a provider who delivers there.

What if labor starts fast? Ask your provider ahead of time which hospital to go to if you can't reach your planned one. In an emergency, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

When to call your provider

Call your provider, go to the nearest emergency room, or call 911 if you have:

• Heavy bleeding or severe belly or pelvic pain
• In pregnancy: bleeding, leaking fluid, a severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling, fewer baby movements, or contractions before 37 weeks
• After birth: heavy bleeding, chest pain, trouble breathing, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
• Fever with pelvic pain

If your delivery hospital is far away, ask your provider ahead of time when to go to the nearest emergency room instead.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• NPPES NPI Registry (CMS) — provider taxonomy and practice locations
• Northwell Health — Putnam Hospital
• NY State Department of Health — Regional Perinatal Center designations

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed clinician who knows your history. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.