Thursday, 28 March 2024

New equipment means better experience for moms and babies at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – It may not make childbirth easy or pain-free, but new equipment at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake is resulting in improved comfort for laboring mothers and newly arrived infants. 

Investment in the equipment is part of the hospital’s focus on providing the best possible patient experience in its Women’s Care Unit.

New monitoring systems recently introduced by the unit allow for enhanced information about the condition of both mother and baby with added wireless features to allow free movement during labor. 

The monitors provide information about both baby and mother, including blood pressure and mom’s oxygen and temperature. The non-invasive blood pressure reading automatically delays during a contraction for maternal comfort. 

Nurses and physicians appreciate the monitoring system’s back-lit screen and keys, which maintain a low-light environment while allowing easy access to information on the fetal monitor.

The new fetal monitoring “tele system” is wireless and gives a laboring patient the freedom of movement while the Women’s Care Unit staff maintain a close eye on the condition of both mother and baby. 

Because the system is waterproof, a laboring mother can use the laboring tub if she wishes. A speaker on the monitor allows the mother to listen to her baby’s heartbeat while adjusting positions or walking around.

“The experience of our moms and babies is most important,” said Melissa Keller, RN, Women’s Care Unit manager. “Our team is so excited about how this new equipment is improving the experience for our patients.”

New labor and delivery beds also enhance the mother’s experience. The state-of-the-art beds offer features that keep patient safety at the forefront. In addition, features include wide calf supports to make the birthing experience more comfortable.

A final enhancement on the unit is a new transcutaneous bilimeter, which measures bilirubin in the infant’s blood without using a needle. This allows hospital staff to check for jaundice, a common condition during a baby’s first week, and other conditions quickly.

The noninvasive test means fewer pokes for the baby and earlier detection. If the test result determines that a baby has a high probability of jaundice, a blood test is done.

“Hospitals operate on information, and it is always satisfying when we can invest in new technology that gives us better information while providing our patients with an easier, more comfortable experience,” said Colleen Assavapisitkul, RN, vice president of patient care.

To learn more about the Women’s Care Unit and prenatal and obstetric services, call 707-994-6486 or visit www.sthelenahospitalclearlake.org .

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