The Indiana State Department of Health has awarded Porter Regional Hospital, in Valparaiso, certification as a Level III Obstetrical Service and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
In its certification announcement to Porter Regional Hospital, Eden Bezy, Director of Maternal and Child Health stated “The Indiana State Department of Health recognizes the positive impact multidisciplinary education has on the safe care of perinatal patients. Thank you for your continued commitment to assure women and infants receive equitable and risk appropriate healthcare.”
According to the revised Indiana Perinatal Hospital Standards, hospitals certified at a Level III are capable of providing specialty management of severe maternal/fetal complications.
“The advanced level of neonatal care and maternal services we provide ensures both mothers and babies receive appropriate, quality care even in serious and complex situations,” said Stephanie Didion, R.N., director of the OB and Neonatal services at Porter Regional Hospital. “We have a team of OB/GYN physicians and neonatologists who are on site around the clock. I am proud of the working relationship they have with both our medical staff and nursing staff. They are an amazing team, providing high-level, personalized care for every mother and baby.”
The Level III NICU recognizes that Porter Regional Hospital provides comprehensive neonatal care for infants of all gestational ages and weights, clinical experience as proven by large patient volume, supervision by board-certified neonatologists, and newborn services such as life support, respiratory support and advanced imaging like MRIs.
The Level III Obstetrical Service designation is granted to hospitals that have OB-GYN and anesthesia services present on-site, staff trained to handle severe maternal complications, an on-site Intensive Care Unit, advanced imaging, and both surgical and anesthesia services.
“Our hospital has long made maternal and neonatal services a priority for the patients of Northwest Indiana and we’ve continually added capabilities such as providing VBACS (vaginal birth after a c-section) and recently opening an OB Emergency Room. Our OB and NICU teams are well-deserving of this designation as both a Level III NICU and Level III OB services,” said Sean Dardeau, Porter Regional Hospital CEO and CEO for the Northwest Indiana Market. “The state designation confirms that our efforts to advance technology, expertise and quality outcomes on a daily basis are making a difference to the communities we serve.”
The state law to certify level-of-care designations for hospitals and other facilities providing birthing services is part of an initiative to combat Indiana’s high infant and maternal mortality rates. Under this law, hospitals are rated on the levels of obstetric and neonatal care they provide so patients can be better informed about the quality of care they can expect.
