IN Upper St. Clair Winter 2019 | Page 27

INDUSTRY INSIGHT YOUR HEALTH SPONSORED CONTENT A A Renewed Commitment Renewed Commitment To Women’s Women’s Health Health Written Emily King Written by by Emily King E E xpecting mothers family in the Pittsburgh area, xpecting mothers and and family in the Pittsburgh area, particularly those living in the southern region, have particularly those living in the southern region, have an an exciting option for a comfortable and soothing birth exciting option for a comfortable and soothing birth experience. Washington Health System has announced experience. Washington Health System has announced the completion of Phase of its new CARE Center for for the completion of Phase 1 of 1 its new CARE Center Family Birth and Women’s Health. Family Birth and Women’s Health. The first phase of construction included the completion of a The first phase of construction included the completion of a comfortable family lounge, a new lobby and thirteen spacious comfortable family lounge, a new lobby and thirteen spacious postpartum rooms. The 22,000-square-foot space fills the same area postpartum rooms. 22,000-square-foot fills adapted the same to area of the hospital, The but the layout of the space space has been offer a of the more hospital, but the layout of the space has been adapted to offer a aesthetically pleasing and functional department. more aesthetically pleasing and functional department. For a year and a half, WHS spoke with community members and For a new year parents and a half, WHS with community members and WHS about what spoke changes would help them to choose new parents about what changes help them choose Washington Hospital to deliver would their babies. They to heard from WHS both Washington Hospital deliver their babies. They heard from WHS patients as to well as patients from other hospitals in the both area. Staff WHS and patients as well patients input from on other the area. Staff physicians also as provided what hospitals changes in would enhance the overall experience. The input feedback was changes the driving force enhance of the plan and physicians also provided on what would for the experience. new unit. The feedback was the driving force of the plan the overall for the new unit. Prenatal Classes Our certified Classes childbirth educators and lactation consultant offer Prenatal a full range of classes for new and/or expectant parents. Our certified childbirth educators and lactation consultant offer a full range of classes for new and/or expectant parents. To register, call (724) 223-3173 To register, call (724) whs.org 223-3173 whs.org “We decided decided that that if we were in in our our “We were going going to to make make this this investment investment hospital and and our our community, community, we Leslie hospital we wanted wanted to to get get it it right,” right,” says says Leslie Gostic, MSN, MSN, RNC-MNN, RNC-MNN, CBC, Center Gostic, CBC, Nurse Nurse Manager Manager of of the the CARE CARE Center for Family Family Birth Birth and and Women’s Women’s Health. to to than for Health. “Who “Who better better to to listen listen than patients, our our community community members patients, members and and staff?” staff?” The $7 million project strives to make the experience of welcoming The $7 million project strives to make the experience of welcoming a new baby more pleasant for both the mother and her family. The a new baby more pleasant for both the mother and her family. The revamped suites allow new moms to recover in a calm and comforting revamped suites allow new moms to recover in a calm and comforting environment in contrast to the standard hospital rooms of the past. environment in contrast the excellent standard hospital of the past. The space now matches to the level of care rooms they have always The space now matches the excellent level of care they have always provided. provided. The rooms themselves are larger, with a family nook for meals and The rooms themselves are larger, with a family for and meals other activities, a comfortable convertible couch, nook artwork a and other activities, a comfortable convertible couch, artwork and a will spacious modern looking bathroom. Parents and family members spacious modern looking bathroom. and The family members will have access to complimentary snacks Parents and drinks. rooms are even have access to a complimentary snacks and that drinks. The rooms are equipped with Bluetooth speaker system will allow women to even listen to a with custom playlist. The addition of retractable creates equipped a Bluetooth speaker system that will curtains allow women to a space breastfeeding to have privacy, if they prefer, creates listen to a for custom playlist. mothers The addition of retractable curtains needing to ask guests to step of privacy, the room. The space a without space for breastfeeding mothers to out have if they prefer, will allow women to to feel ask more at home, rather the room. typical The hospital without needing guests to step out than of the space will environment. allow women to feel more at home, rather than the typical hospital environment. Besides the esthetic improvements, patients will still receive excellent care from the medical improvements, staff plus every patients delivery is by a excellent Besides the esthetic will attended still receive Neonatal Resuscitation team member. The new nursery now includes care from the medical staff plus every delivery is attended by a a level 2 special care area that will allow staff and physicians to provide Neonatal Resuscitation team member. The new nursery now includes the best care possible to babies that may need some additional a medical level 2 special care area that will allow staff and physicians to provide attention. the best care possible to babies that may need some additional medical attention. The second phase of construction is underway and is expected to take several months to complete. This part of the project will see The phase of construction is underway and is expected the second completion of drastically improved labor and delivery rooms, to take several suite months to complete. This part area. of the In project will see care C-section as well as physician on-call the meantime, the completion of that drastically labor or and rooms, is being taken so patients improved will not notice be delivery distracted by the C-section suite as well as physician on-call area. In the meantime, care construction project. is being taken so that patients will not notice or be distracted by the construction project. To take a virtual tour of the unit visit whs.org/CARECenter. To take a virtual tour of the unit visit whs.org/CARECenter. UPPER ST. CLAIR ❘ WINTER 2019 25