Coshocton Hospital prepared for OB closure
COSHOCTON – As Coshocton Hospital approaches the June 27 closure of the Birthing Centre, preparations are in place to help guide expectant mothers and families toward a safe delivery. At the same time, plans are underway to expand women’s health services to meet the gynecological needs of women throughout the many stages of life.
The Birthing Centre at the hospital will continue to accept laboring mothers until 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 27. If a mother is in labor in the birthing centre at the scheduled closing time, her care will continue through her baby’s delivery and post-partum care, and the nursing functions will continue in the unit until the mother and baby are released to go home.
After the closure of the unit, a laboring mother who arrives at the emergency department (ED) will be sent to her obstetrician’s hospital or to the closest available hospital offering obstetrics care, provided the mother is stable for transport. The ED staff, physicians and local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff are prepared to help those mothers who are too close to delivery to make it to their OB hospital or who are having difficulties that require emergency care.
“It is the nature of emergency medicine that we train for these types of events, but we have increased education and focus on our appropriate protocols to be fully prepared for OB emergencies,” said Kristine Williamson, MSN, RN, director of nursing, emergency services. “We have meshed our obstetrics policies with ED procedures to ensure our staff has full knowledge of OB practices and procedures. In addition, David Rosado, MD, has been working one-on-one with our physicians to establish appropriate protocols to care for expectant mothers in an emergency situation.”
If a mother’s labor has progressed too far to be safely transported to another facility, the ED staff has the equipment and skill to deliver the baby. The ED is equipped with OB supplies needed to deliver a baby, and has pediatricians on call to assess the baby’s condition when he or she is born. In addition to the ED physician, the hospital also maintains hospitalist physician care 24-hours-per-day for assistance should the mother require additional medical care after the delivery. Once the mother and baby are stabilized, they will be transferred to a nearby hospital of the mother’s choosing that provides OB services.
“While mothers are encouraged to call their obstetrician with questions or concerns, our ED physicians and staff members are here to help in case a mother senses she may be in an emergency situation, and we will get her to where she needs to go,” stated Williamson. “Our physicians will always err on the side of caution where the safety of the mother and child are concerned.”
With the closure of OB services, the Women’s Care Clinic will undergo changes as well, and will remain open as the Women’s Health Clinic. Paul Prior, MD, will be leaving the clinic on Aug. 18 to pursue other opportunities to continue his OB practice. David Rosado, MD, will remain in the clinic to help define and grow the women’s health service line. Certified nurse midwife Jacqueline Cleland will be working for Muskingum Valley Health Center (MVHC) beginning July 14 and will be assisting with their pre-natal care program.
In his gynecological practice, Dr. Rosado will be treating women’s health needs from adolescence through mature adulthood, including well-woman exams, contraception and family planning, menopause, menstrual issues, urinary issues as well as the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions related to women’s health. If a patient is pregnant, Dr. Rosado can provide pre-natal care until the 12th week of pregnancy. During the first trimester, he and his staff will work one-on-one with the expectant mother to help her become established with a regional obstetrician for ongoing prenatal care and the baby’s delivery, as they have done since the OB closure was first announced.
Plans are under development to add providers, specialties and educational outreach to further expand the Women’s Health Clinic. The hospital will announce additional enhancements as plans are finalized.
Category: People & Places
