(Editor's note: This is the fifth installment in a weekly series on Piedmont Newnan Hospital's new facility on Poplar Road leading up to the opening this spring.)
When the next U.S. Census is taken in 2020, the number of births recorded in Newnan, Ga., should show a marked increase.
That's not because the local parent population is expected to swell unexpectedly, but because more Coweta parents may choose to have their babies delivered in the county they call home.
For years, many Coweta couples have received prenatal care close to home, but have chosen to have their babies delivered in some of metro Atlanta's larger hospitals -- not because the care is better, but because the other facilities are newer and nicer.
When the new Piedmont Newnan Hospital opens its doors on Poplar Road this spring, other hospitals will be looking to Coweta County for an example of the latest in comfort, care and convenience for newborns and their parents.
The physical facilities at the Women's Services department of the new hospital will be the envy of the area. But as nice as the new hospital will be, one thing won't change: the top quality care already being delivered at the current facility.
"The current high level of care provided in our nursery and NICU will truly be enhanced by our new facility," said Robert Whipple, M.D., medical director of Piedmont Newnan Hospital's Nursery and NICU. "The state-of-the-art design features, equipment and technology will further our team's clinical performance and services provided to babies born at Piedmont Newnan Hospital."
The record backs up the claims.
Piedmont Newnan's Women's Services patient satisfaction scores, based on results of an independent surveyor, were among the highest of all Piedmont Hospitals both in FY10 and FY11, with a combined average ranking in the 91st percentile.
Several recent cases illustrate how the hospital's Women's Services department -- including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU -- scored so well with patients.
In one case, a male newborn of a mother who was past her due date was born via c-section with no heart rate and no respiratory effort. The infant was intubated by the neonatal nurse practitioner, placed on a ventilator, given chest compressions and CPR, and was fully revived.
The baby was off the ventilator within a few hours of delivery and discharged with his mom when he was four days old, in good health, on room air and taking full bottle feedings.
In another case, 33-week premature twins were born at PNH with respiratory distress, requiring stabilization after birth and placement on nasal CPAP machines. They remained in the nursery for the next month as they learned to feed and gain weight, allowing their mom to stay close to home so she could visit and care for her growing premature babies.
"The stories of excellent patient care, provided to both the mothers who entrust us with their deliveries and their babies, are abundant," said Alison Middleton, neonatal nurse practitioner and manager, Piedmont Newnan Hospital Nursery and NICU. "Our Women's Services team of highly qualified, talented individuals is thrilled that we will be able to take this high level of care with us to our new hospital and grow this service for the women in our community."
Care is taken in the Labor and Delivery Suite to create a non-institutional feel while providing patients with a safe environment for birthing. The suite boasts an upgraded hospitality feel with wall coverings in the corridors and custom light fixtures.
The headwalls of the patient rooms are constructed of wood with fabric laminated in glass used as a focal element, allowing medical gases and electrical outlets to be concealed on the patient's headwall until required.
Special attention has also been given to ensure that mom's support person will be very comfortable during the delivery process through the provisions of warm, soft sleeper seating and workspaces for long deliveries.
Great facilities can't deliver better care to mothers and newborns without a great team of physicians, nurses and medical support personnel. Piedmont Newnan is already among the leaders in this area.
Currently, care is provided by a team of nine in-house neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) who are on site and available for work seven days a week, 24 hours a day. They are always ready to assist with high-risk deliveries and oversee the care of all newborns.
The highly-skilled NNP team at Piedmont Newnan is the only such team available onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the entire Piedmont Healthcare system.
The neonatal nurse practitioners specialize in the care of newborns. They are advanced practice nurses with master's degrees and are certified in neonatology and/or pediatrics.
Piedmont Newnan has a staff of nine NNPs with a combined neonatal experience of approximately 150 years.
This team also works with all Women's Services staff members to provide learning opportunities and enhance the skills of other medical professionals in the area.
Having this highly skilled, neonatal nurse practitioner-led resuscitation team sets Piedmont Newnan apart from other area hospitals.
Hospital officials say that in the area of nursing and support staff:
n All Labor and Delivery nurses are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and fetal monitoring.
n All staff members, including patient care technicians, maintain Neonatal Resuscitation Program credentials through the American Academy of Pediatrics.
n The majority of Labor and Delivery and Mother/Baby staff members have approximately five years or greater of experience; some have experience of 20 years or more.
n All staff is charged with constant growth and learning to provide the very best in care.
In the area of emergency pediatric services, Piedmont Newnan's Emergency Services department provides high-quality emergency care to pediatric patients. If pediatric patients require inpatient care, Piedmont Newnan works to ensure a smooth transfer to a pediatric hospital that specializes in the inpatient care of pediatric patients.
Piedmont Newnan's Women's Services staff also provide community education on childbirth, breastfeeding, infant safety and CPR.
The Women's Services department also has a Lactation Center staffed by a board-certified lactation consultant and a certified breastfeeding counselor who are both available for consultation.
The center also provides breast pump sales and rentals and other breastfeeding supplies such as nursing bras, pads and breast milk storage.
The physicians, nurses and medical staff of the Women's Services department at Piedmont Newnan Hospital say they are dedicated to providing "a continuation of exceptional care for women and newborns."
When the new hospital opens, many more area families and newborns are sure to experience that "exceptional care" for themselves.
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NEW HOSPITAL INCLUDES FACILITIES FOR WOMEN AND NEWBORNS
Patient testimonials and medical records make it clear that the physicians, nurses and medical staffers currently working at Piedmont Newnan Hospital are already offering the finest care available for new mothers and newborns.
That care will only get better at the new Piedmont Newnan Hospital, which will boast not just technically advanced and patient-friendly labor and delivery rooms but a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) designed to provide the best care available anywhere for high-risk newborn babies.
“With the increased capacity within our Women’s Services unit in our new facility, we anticipate and look forward to the growth of this program, which has been needed in our community for many years,” said April Foley, director of Piedmont Newnan Hospital Women’s Services. “The success our Women’s Services team is already experiencing, from achieving excellent patient satisfaction rates, to launching our critically important 24-7, in-house Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program, will only heighten and provide greater impact to the women and newborns in our community when we move into our new hospital.”
That care will be delivered in a setting specifically designed to take the needs of the entire family into consideration.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) features include:
• State-of-the art, Level II NICU, featuring six all-private NICU rooms equipped to provide long-term care for premature infants born at 32 weeks and older.
• The all-private rooms will assist in reducing infections, aid in the reduction of stressful acoustical noise and provide superior accommodations for family and caregivers to give the best care for an infant in need.
Hospital officials say the NICU environment, which will be cheerful, quiet and serene, will support staff, family and their infant or infants in need of required medical observation and care.
The environment contains direct views of nature, which allows for controllable bright natural light, which in turn promotes infants’ natural circadian rhythms and reduces family stress during trying times.
The space includes materials that are beautiful but also advantageous to the success of the environment. The flooring is composed of a special composite that decreases acoustical noise within the space and also utilizes bright colors that create an interesting pattern for positive distraction.
The ceilings are of the best acoustical rating and the walls and work stations are cleanable and ergonomically designed with the family’s as well as staff’s needs in mind. Sinks are conveniently located for caregivers and families to use, which reduces infections. The materials utilized in the construction, partnered with the layout of the NICU, provide a cohesive holistic environment that supports the staff, family and patient with the direct focus on healing.
In addition to the NICU and upgraded Labor-Delivery-Recovery Unit and Caesarean Section Suite, the Women’s Services area of Piedmont Newnan Hospital also offers a Mother-Baby Unit that feels more like a home than a hospital.
Features of the different areas are highlighted here.
The NICU will include the latest equipment designed to care for premature and critically-ill newborns, including:
• GE Giraffe OmniBeds.
• Isolettes (commonly referred to as incubators).
• Infant shuttle transporter.
• High-flow nasal cannulas.
• Synchronized Intermittent Positive Airway Pressure (SiPAP) machines.
• Infant Draeger Ventilators for babies with respiratory issues.
The Labor-Delivery-Recovery (LDR) Unit/C-Section Suite features include:
• State-of-the-art LDR unit, featuring five beautifully-appointed rooms.
• LDR unit technology includes advanced fetal monitoring and GE Panda Warmers in all LDR rooms with built-in infant resuscitation, suction, blended oxygen, and scales.
For the Labor and Delivery process, highly skilled and trained infant resuscitation teams consisting of NICU nurses, respiratory therapists, and neonatal nurse practitioners are on hand for babies who require additional assistance upon birth.
• The Cesarean Section Suite features two large operating rooms for both unscheduled/emergent and scheduled C-Sections.
The Mother-Baby Unit Features:
• State-of-the-art Mother-Baby (Couplet Care) Unit, featuring 14 beautifully-appointed rooms designed with mom’s and baby’s safety and comfort at the forefront.
• The couplet care setting allows well infants to stay with their moms after delivery.
• This unit will be fully secured for the safety of both newborns and mothers, with visitors allowed only by badge access.
Improved facilities are expected to lead to an increase in births at PNH, but hospital officials are ready to welcome their new crowd of parents and babies with open arms.
