New moms, babies receive extra layer of care

City’s first OB Hospitalist programs proving to benefit both patients and doctors at St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital and North Central Baptist Hospital

Baptist Health System is breaking ground in the care of moms and their newborns, while benefiting obstetric physicians and improving hospital quality, safety and operations, through its new OB Hospitalist program at St Luke’s Baptist and North Central Baptist Hospital.

“It’s proving to be a win-win for all involved,” said Terrie Price, director of Labor and Delivery at St. Luke’s. “We’re able to provide patients and their babies with added 24/7 care and attention, while giving our obstetricians the resources to ease on-call schedules that can extend a 24-hour period. This accommodates for duties that pull physicians away from the hospital,” she said. In addition OB hospitalists are physicians who dedicate their career to working solely in the hospital setting and not in a medical office. “That means they focus their full attention on tailoring care for each patient,” Price said. “They are more fulfilled in their careers as caregivers.”

Patient Cristela Sanchez, 34, said she was fortunate that an OB hospitalist was on hand when she fainted unexpectedly in her room only three hours after she gave birth to her son, Saul. Nurses called a Code Blue emergency and OB Hospitalist Dr. Megan Lenhart rushed into action to prevent Sanchez from cardiac arrest. “I’m so grateful that they all worked together and so quickly to help me. They’re amazing!” Sanchez said.