Birthing Center Addition

While patient satisfaction scores in the 99th percentile have proven the excellent service provided to the patients and families cared for in the Birthing Center, the time has come to elevate the quality of its physical environment to meet the quality of the birthing experience.

The 29,000 square foot addition will be located on the north side of OSF St. Joseph Medical Center's property. An additional 5,500 square feet in the existing facility will also be renovated for the new obstetrics and gynecological unit as part of the project. The Birthing Center's current space is 11,000 square feet.

The Challenge

Currently, expecting mothers arrive in the Birthing Center and deliver their children in any one of four labor/delivery rooms. Following delivery, mothers are moved to one of 17 postpartum rooms where she remains throughout the rest of her stay.

"From a physician's standpoint, I think our main concern is the size of the Birthing Center's surgical suite. If we are delivering by cesarean section, it's difficult to fit all of the equipment and personnel needed with such limited space," said Lisa Emm, MD. "More space, would allow us ample room to house all of our equipment in the suite and have it immediately available. I think that would be very beneficial to our patients."

While both care models are safe and effective, the delivery rooms are outdated and neither as efficient, nor comfortable as the medical center would like for its patients and their families.

A Modern Facility

On average, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center delivers more than 700 babies per year. Due to the floor plan of the existing Birthing Center, it is not feasible to offer all birthing stages - from admission to discharge - to occur in a single room. However, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center will be creating 12 private Labor/ Delivery/ Recovery/ Postpartum (LDRP) rooms in the new Birthing Center, offering mothers and their babies the latest advances in comfort and care.

"By creating the LDRP rooms, the Birthing Center can reduce its number of beds from 17 to 12. There will be no need to move patients from room to room," said Mary Beth Ettien, Birthing Center Nurse Manager. "Opting for fewer but larger and more family-friendly rooms, the department will be better able to store equipment and technology, as well as, provide modern amenities for mom and dad."

Construction and Renovation Plan

The proposed construction and renovation will ensure modernized health care and safety for each patient. Construction plans include the following:

• A 15-bed nursery area adjacent to a nurse's station, which will be relocated to the center of the new Birthing Center to ensure increased safety for newborns


• Increased space to accommodate new equipment including infant warmers, anesthesia machines, and monitoring devices


• A state-of-the art surgical suite, completely housing the equipment needed to perform cesarean sections, with room to spare


• Warm, natural, patient rooms with family-friendly amenities, including large private bathrooms with modern fixtures and electrical outlets


• Increased space for clinical support functions and large family waiting areas, including an enhanced play area for children


• A more efficient ventilation system, temperature control system, and better one-way flow through the suites and recovery areas

Reducing Our Carbon Footprint

In addition, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center plans to create an effective, sustainable, and inspiring environment for the new, modern Birthing Center. Reflecting the commitment to reduce its carbon footprint and to use products that have a minimal negative impact on human health and the environment, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center has created a final design plan that will increase energy efficiency to minimize the medical center's dependency on carbon fuels, incorporate recycled materials for use in the interior and exterior, and utilize windows to enhance the quantity of natural daylight in patient rooms.

Construction and renovation of OSF St. Joseph Medical Center's new birthing center is expected to begin January 2010 and be completed Spring 2011.
 

Birthing Center Videos

The following videos walk you through what the new Birthing Center will look like.