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Delivering personalized family care
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by Cindy Abole
Public Relations
MUSC employee Meredith Strehle was anxious to meet and hold her son,
Tillman Alexander, during the morning hours of Sept. 13. As a
first-time mother, she had hoped that her birth experience would be
positive, comfortable and focused on a family-centered care approach
for her, husband Nick, and their newborn.
It was the same goal for second-time mom and nurse Brooke Hembre with
the April 4 birth of daughter, Carter. Clinical pharmacist Matt Maughan
and wife, Lil, were confident in relying on MUSC in the birth of both
their sons, Jacob, born in January 2009, and more recently, Eli, born
in February.
 Labor and
Delivery patient Jessica Carrigan underoges an ultrasound test
performed by OB/GYN resident Dr, heather Norton and nurse Lauren Small.
Waiting nearby is husband Jason. The Summerville couple, who will be
first-time parents, checked into the unit Sept. 14 and have been
waiting for the arrival of their daughter, Skylar, in one of nine newly
renovated labor rooms.
These families,
all MUSC employees and their spouses, were able to enjoy a positive
birth experience through the guidance of a skilled and experienced
health care team and an array of services and programs that are
supportive to the well-being of mother, newborn and family.
“We strive to provide good family-centered care so that mother and
newborns are together as much as possible,” said Debbie Browning, R.N.,
MUSC Women & Infant Services Service Line director. “We invite
families to bring items from home that would help make their labor and
delivery experience both comfortable and personal.”
 OB/GYN resident Dr.
Katie Gurchek, third from left, cuts a ribbon signifying the Labor and
Delivery (L&D) unit re-opening Sept. 7. She's joined by L&D
nurse manager Karen Stephenson, nurses Becky Blacher, Lauren Small,
Postpartum nurse Mary Farmer, L&D nurse Sonya Jacobs and Clinical
Pharmacy's Dr. Matt Maughan.
Earlier this summer, MUSC Women & Infant Services unveiled a new
look and planned renovations in its Labor and Delivery unit
complementing its nine birthing suites, two operating rooms, exam and
recovery rooms and nurse’s station. Specific changes included softer
lighting, a warm, inviting color scheme in the halls and rooms and
Lowcountry photographs gracing the walls. In patient rooms, new
equipment and designs were added including storage space and shelving,
convertible lounge chairs for family and flat-screen televisions. The
four-month project was the first in a multi-phase renovation project
for Women & Infant Services areas, including Obstetrics-Gynecology,
Labor and Delivery, Antepartum (high-risk deliveries) and Postpartum
(post delivery). The Labor and Delivery unit was officially unveiled
Sept. 7.
The changes are part of an overall effort to promote services and
expertise provided by the MUSC Women & Infant Services clinical
team and faculty and staff with the Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology. The department and staff continue to make progress in
providing quality patient care. For the second year in a row, U.S. News
& World Report ranked MUSC among one of the country’s best
hospitals for gynecology services.
The spotlight on Labor and Delivery’s clinical care services also is
the September Employee Benefit of the Month. Expectant MUSC employees
and their spouses, who are covered by the Standard State of Health Plan
(Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina-BCBS), are eligible to save
as much as $1,000 in out-of-pocket hospital expenses when they deliver
their baby at MUSC. This discount does not apply to BCBS’s high
deductible plan.
“The cost savings to deliver my baby at MUSC was a driving factor in my
ultimate decision,” said Hembree, who’s been at MUSC since 2004 and
works in the Postpartum and Level 1 nursery. Hembree also was aware
that anything could happen during a live birth, and she felt
comfortable with the available expertise of neonatologists and 24/7
coverage by anesthesia specialists and other clinical experts in the
event her planned birth experience quickly turned into a high-risk
delivery with complications. “I knew I was in capable hands with my
coworkers, physicians and residents and that they’d take good care of
me. I knew it was the perfect place to deliver my child.”
Strehle, who is a public information director for MUSC Children’s
Hospital, chose MUSC as her hospital of choice for her birth experience
from the start. Her obstetrician was Margaret Villers, M.D., assistant
professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, who is
located at MUSC Women’s Health Services at 135 Cannon St.
“It was an easy decision because I work with and trust the people
involved in my care,” Strehle said. “I trust in these services as well
as the knowledge and experience of the department and staff.”
Throughout Strehle’s pregnancy she relied on MUSC services and
resources, from attending her first trimester prenatal screening and
follow-up appointments with her physician to using and exploring
available resources such as online birth planning. She also followed
the Women Speak health blog and used other health assessment tools.
Strehle also was the author of her own blog, Mrs. Pregnant in the
Lowcountry, which shared details and experiences along her pregnancy
journey.
The Strehles, like other expectant couples, attended scheduled Child
Birth Education Classes taught by certified child birth
educators-nurses. These classes offered details about the birth
process, pain management, and newborn and mother’s care. She also
attended breast-feeding class, while Nick plans to attend the Boot Camp
for New Dads Workshop soon after both baby and mother are home and
settled. The Labor and Delivery staff facilitates breast-feeding
between a mother and newborn within an hour after birth.
The Maughans, who live in James Island, also felt comfortable selecting
MUSC for their private birth experience. Because of his work, Maughan
was already familiar working with coworkers in Labor and Delivery and
the Postpartum areas. Minor challenges in the birth of their first son
assured them that they were in the best place as they planned for the
delivery of their second child. Baby Eli surprised everyone by coming
two weeks early.
“My wife and I knew that being surrounded by good, experienced people
helped make each birth a great experience,” Maughan said. “Both times,
we knew we received the best care available.”
“Our Labor and Delivery nurses are a diverse group who are certified in
both fetal monitoring and neonatal resuscitation and together, share
years of valuable experience,” said Karen Stephenson, R.N., Labor and
Delivery nurse manager. “They are committed to their work and are
always striving to improve patient care.”
To schedule an appointment, call 792-1212.
Friday, Sept. 17, 2010
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