Hospital’s Renovated, Expanded Women’s Center Receives High Praise

In a building dedicated to caring for newborns, introduced its pride and joy to the community Aug. 6 with the unveiling of its refurbished Women’s Center.

Renovations began at The Women’s Center in October, with work on the first and second floors, but already it feels like a new building, say longtime staff members.

“It’s wonderful,” said Peggy Penovich, a nurse educator in the neonatal intensive care unit. “It will help us function better. It’s also aesthetically better. With the private rooms family members can stay in the rooms. The moms will also be a lot more comfy.”

Brenda Hill is the hospital’s director of labor and delivery.

“We have gotten a very positive response from patients,” she said. "I think patients that have been here for prior deliveries will see a big difference. The moms will have better views, an improved décor and will just be more comfy overall.”

Often nervous and anxious as they await an operation or prepare to deliver a baby, patients have expectations when they arrive at the hospital, Hill said.

“There’s an expectation that they will have accommodations for family members and they will be comfortable,” she said. "A nice environment and the right accommodations add to that experience.”

Patients will appreciate the new private rooms at the hospital, said Denise Smith, the hospital’s breast program supervisor.

“It’s been a great renovation,” said Smith, who has worked at the hospital for about 10 years. "Private rooms will be very important for patients. The décor will make it feel like they at home, more like an event than going to hospital."

The new perinatal area got a four-star rating from Bridgette Anne Hurley, the hospital’s ultrasound supervisor.

“The ultrasound technician’s room is twice as large,” said Hurley, who has worked at the hospital for 21 years. "The rooms are twice as large and it’s so much nicer for the families. The ultrasound is now also hooked up to a TV in the room so the families will be able to watch the ultrasound on the screen as it’s happening.”

Among the new highlights:

• On the first floor, the hospital moved perinatal services to the Women’s Center, expanded the waiting area, designed a new entry and expanded the expectant mothers’ drop off area to include a larger canopy. 
• The second floor renovations included a redesign of rooms for mothers-to-be that need an inpatient hospital stay and women undergoing gynecology procedures.
• “The rooms are private but can accommodate two beds,” said hospital spokesperson Patty Montgomery. “We might have a patient who need to stay for more than a month and who is going through a very difficult surgery and that can be very frightening. They have the option of adding an extra bed so a family member can stay with them.”
• The rooms can also add a second bed in the event of an emergency like a hurricane, she added.