St John's Episcopal Hospital is a recipient of NYS 2015 Quality Improvement Award

NEW YORK - Aug. 19, 2016 - PRLog -- St. John's Episcopal Hospital is a recipient of the New York State Perinatal Quality Collaborative (NYSPQC) Obstetrical Improvement Project's 2015 Quality Improvement Award. This award supports the NYSPQC Maternal Hemorrhage and Hypertension Initiative's mission of advancing improvements in identifying maternal hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders. This award is being given to facilities whose project teams reported that greater than 80% of women were both evaluated for their risk of hemorrhage at the time of admission to the birth hospitalization, and after delivery, received information on the signs and symptoms of postpartum pre-eclampsia prior to discharge. "This is the highest level of achievement possible for this project, and we commend your entire team for their exemplary work and commitment to this important cause. We hope staff at your facility will continue to focus on this area to ensure ongoing success." Said Marilyn Kacica, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Division of Family Health at the NYSDOH

The NYSPQC, an initiative of the New York State Department of Health, aims to provide the best and safest care for women and infants in New York State. Since September 2010, the Department has been collaborating with NYS' birthing facilities to improve and ensure the quality of obstetrical care, and infant health and safety. Through the NYSPQC Maternal Hemorrhage and Hypertension Initiative, which took place between April 2014 and October 2015, St. John's had the opportunity to learn from faculty and colleagues; receive individual coaching; gather new knowledge on the subject matter and process improvement; share experiences and collaborate on improvement plans and create strategies to overcome improvement barriers.

Due to the success of participating facilities, the percent of postpartum maternity patients at participating facilities receiving education on the signs and symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia improved 558% during the project period, from 12% in April 2014, to 81% in September 2015. Additionally, participating facilities saw a 171% improvement in the percent of maternity patients with documented risk assessment for maternal hemorrhage, increasing from 26% of maternity patients in April 2014, to 72% of maternity patients in September 2015.

"We congratulate you and recognize the work your facility's team has done to reach the goal of evaluating women for hemorrhage risk, and providing women with education on the signs and symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia. Your efforts to improve maternal and newborn outcomes are appreciated."  Said Marilyn Kecica, the NYSDOH representative.

Labor, Delivery & Post-Partum Care – at St. John's

All of the obstetricians at St. John's are board-certified, and the care they provide is complemented by a certified nurse-midwife. Numerous birthing options are available in the hospital's six modern labor and delivery suites, including epidural anesthesia and natural childbirth. Birthing rooms include state-of-the-art electronic fetal monitoring (EFM), and the hospital requires that all labor and delivery staff maintain advanced certification in fetal heart rate monitoring and obstetrical management.

The hospital's post-partum rooms are private and designed to promote bonding with the newborn. New mothers can choose to have their baby "room in" and each room has a sleeping chair for partners who wish to spend the night. Every room also comes with a private bathroom and shower. The Level II (special care) nursery, located on the same floor, accommodates up to 25 newborns and is staffed by registered nurses who are specially trained in newborn care.

St. John's encourages breastfeeding, and a certified lactation consultant is available to educate, support and reassure new mothers. Breast pumps are available.

Tours & Classes

Tours of the maternity unit for expectant parents are offered regularly. There are also childbirth preparation classes led by a certified nurse educator. For registration and class schedules, or questions about tours, please call 718-869-7276.

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