Mercy NWA expands obstetrics unit for high-risk mothers
by July 8, 2020 9:10 am 1,751 views
Mercy Northwest Arkansas has added 14 mother-baby suites and a high-risk obstetrics unit to its hospital services in Rogers.
This new unit dubbed Mercy Birthplace — Northwest Arkansas opened adjacent to the hospital’s 19-bed Level IIIA Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The expanded space in the hospital’s new tower allows mothers to be closer to their newborns in the event the baby requires a higher level of care. In addition, Mercy added a six-bed unit for mothers with high-risk pregnancies.
“Pregnancy and childbirth are an exciting time for families, but we understand it can also be very stressful, especially if you experience certain high-risk conditions,” said Whitney Tolbert, the hospital’s director of women’s and children’s services. “Some moms may require more frequent monitoring or higher level of care from the obstetrics team.”
Mercy said the high-risk obstetrics unit is staffed around the clock with nurses and board-certified OB/GYN providers to meet the critical needs of patients. Maternal-fetal medicine consultation is available to support in-house providers.
“It is safest for women with high-risk pregnancies to deliver in a hospital where their newborn can also be cared for. Our ability to provide that critical level of care for both moms and babies with 24/7, in-house maternal, newborn and anesthesia services sets Mercy apart in this area as the most equipped facility to deliver maternal and newborn care,” said Dr. Kale Dittmeyer, medical director of women’s and children’s services.
All of Mercy’s private suites allow families to stay with their newborns, rather than babies being sent to a nursery. For times when a newborn needs a higher level of care, neonatal providers are available 24/7 with access to state-of-the-art technology within Mercy’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Like Mercy’s other suites, the NICU offers private rooms where parents can remain at their infant’s bedside.
Mercy said the expansion was aimed at meeting the needs of the growing region.