When shopping for the safest and best hospital to deliver your baby, these are questions that the professionals recommend asking and answers for St. Joseph Medical Center.
Q. | What is the overall philosophy and goal of this hospital's maternity service? |
A. | At St. Joseph Medical Center, we believe the birth of a baby means the growth of a family. We put a family focus on our caring. Family members are encouraged to take an active role in caring for the new baby. Our philosophy is that mothers should be cared for in conjunction with their new babies-not apart from them. In this way, the nurse is familiar with the special needs of the entire family, and can better coordinate the mother's teaching program with her hospital stay. Our goal is to help nurture the growing family so the mother's and baby's transition to home life is as smooth as possible. |
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Q. | Does the hospital have a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit? |
A. | Yes |
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Q. | Does the hospital have ventilator capabilities for my newborn? |
A. | Yes |
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Q. | What is the cutoff point for weeks gestation that my newborn would be able to stay here with me and not have to be transferred to another, higher level facility? |
A. | 32 weeks |
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Q. | Does the hospital have 24 hour in house Neonatal Nurse Practitioners on staff to attend to all of my baby's needs? |
A. | Yes |
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Q. | Is there 24 hour a day in house anesthesia services available for me? |
A. | Yes |
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Q. | Is there a designated anesthesia staff member 24 hours a day specifically assigned to the OB Department? |
A. | Yes |
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Q. | If my Dr. is recommending an emergency cesarean section in a crisis, is there anyone I would have to wait for to get there before they could proceed? |
A. | NO |
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Q. | How long might I have to wait on average for my epidural when I am requesting it? |
A. | less than 15 minutes on average |
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Q. | Does the hospital have Perinatology and Neonatology Services on staff? |
A. | Yes, Both |
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Q. | Does the hospital have Certified Lactation Consultants on staff to attend to all of my breastfeeding needs? |
A. | Yes |
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Q. | Are the operating rooms utilized for cesarean section located on the labor and delivery unit, or would I have to be transported somewhere else? |
A. | Yes, in Labor and Delivery |
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Q. | How many operating rooms and birthing suites are there and how often does it happen that they are all full and I would have to wait for one? |
A. | 10 Birthing Suites, 2 Operating Rooms, 2 Recovery Room beds-It is rare to have to wait for a room because they are all full |
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Q. | Are all of your rooms private rooms or would I have a roommate? |
A. | All private |
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Q. | Does the hospital have a centralized fetal monitoring system with the ability to see what is going on in different areas of the unit? |
A. | Yes, in all patient rooms, nursing and doctor's lounges |
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Q. | Does the hospital offer a boarding program free of charge if my newborn isn't quite ready to go home when I am? |
A. | Yes |
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Q. | How is this hospital's cesarean section rate in comparison to the national average? |
A. | Our cesarean section rate is consistently below the national average year after year |
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Q. | What type of infant security system do you have in place in your hospital? |
A. | We have a baby bracelet alarm system that doesn't allow for babies to be taken off the unit, video surveillance at door entry and exit points, restricted access to the unit, security foot patrol, and various other measures to protect your newborn. |
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Q. | Do you have education programs for teen mothers? |
A. | Yes, the Healthy Beginnings Program. Call 816-943-4645 to see how we can help. |
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Q. | I am deciding where to deliver. Do you offer tours? |
A. | Yes, Call 816-943-4645 to schedule a tour. |
