Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital Offers Expecting Mothers Another Level of Care

Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital is ushering in a new era of care for expectant mothers with the opening of a dedicated entrance and newly renovated maternity admitting space for pregnant women. The Women’s Center entrance, located on Ransom Avenue, and maternity admitting area will open to patients on Sunday, February 3.

The Women’s Center entrance is open and staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The entrance is conveniently located close to maternity admitting and close to reserved parking for their support person.

Most hospitals ask laboring mothers to arrive at the emergency department for assessment and admission.

“We have substantially reduced the distance an expectant mother would need to travel once she arrives at the hospital,” said Stephen Rechner, MD, medical director, women’s services, Spectrum Health. “This is particularly important for a woman in labor.”

The concept for the special entrance and renovated maternity admitting space came from discussion with the hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC). The council is a partnering of patients and families with hospital leadership, physicians and staff.

“Patients and their families provide a unique perspective,” said Cindy Reistroffer, director, women’s services, Spectrum Health. “Their insights into the laboring woman’s experience were invaluable and have helped to shape a patient experience that will be unlike any other offered in our area.”

The Women’s Center entrance will be open and staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When a laboring mother arrives, they will be greeted and escorted to maternity admitting for evaluation by members of the maternity admitting team. The team is comprised of physicians, certified midwifes, nurse practitioners and registered nurses, all of whom have specialized knowledge and skill to care for routine as well as complex pregnancies and labors.

“A mother may stay in the maternity admitting area for a few minutes or for several hours,” explained Reistroffer. “During this time, the mother is provided comfort options such as a whirlpool tub while the health care team assesses the wellbeing of both mom and baby. When it’s time to move to labor and delivery, our newly remodeled birthing suites await.”

More babies are born at the Spectrum Health Family Birthplace than any other hospital in Michigan, with over 7,400 births annually. The Spectrum Health Family Birthplace offers the most comprehensive pregnancy and birth services including exceptional nursing care, care for complex pregnancies, advanced neonatal care, 24/7 pain management with a dedicated obstetric anesthesiologist on site at all times, breastfeeding support, birthing suites designed for comfort, and immediate access to the state of the art Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

“Our mothers and families expect the best in terms of their care and experience,” said Rechner. “As a regional leader in patient care, we are pleased to provide our patients an even greater level of care and attention.”

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of nine hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a state of the art children’s hospital that opened in January 2011, and 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 700 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 600,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 19,000 employees. The organization provided $204 million in community benefit during its 2012 fiscal year.