WVU Medicine Children’s Birthing Center at Uniontown Hospital set to open
Oh baby!
It was a happy day at WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital on Thursday, when hospital officials unveiled WVU Medicine Children’s Birthing Center, which is scheduled to open in January 2025.
The hospital hosted a ribbon cutting and community celebration, and conducted tours of the birthing center. And registered nurse Joyce Zosky, a member of the birthing center staff, had the honor of pressing a chime that will sound throughout the birthing center each time a baby is born.
The birthing center brings labor and delivery services back to expectant mothers and their families in Fayette County communities for the first time since 2019, when the labor and delivery unit closed as part of a cost-cutting move.
“WVU Medicine’s commitment to providing health care to the women of Southwest Pennsylvania continues with this important milestone, the restoration of access to one of the most fundamental needs for women in our region – the ability to give birth close to home,” said Dr. Lawrence Glad, medical director of the WVU Medicine Children’s Birthing Center at Uniontown Hospital.
While many labor and delivery units across rural Pennsylvania face closure – and rates of maternal deaths and severe maternal morbidity across the state and in the U.S. are on the rise – the opening of the birthing center at Uniontown Hospital is significant, said Dr. Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health, who spoke at the ceremony.
“Adding a new birthing center here in Fayette County will improve outcomes for the area’s mothers and babies. I have seen first hand the impact of quality birthing services on families and on communities, and I’m delighted at WVU Medicine and Uniontown Hospital’s commitment to providing this maternity care option for residents right here in their own community,” said Bogen.
The $5 million, state-of-the-art maternity unit features five newly-renovated labor, delivery and recovery rooms, 11 postpartum rooms, and a suite for babies born via cesarean section.
Patients also have access to the advanced care provided by WVU Children’s Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va.
“Our organization’s mission calls us to commit to excellence in patient care, and I can’t think of a better example than this birthing center, which shows our commitment to 140,000 residents in Fayette County and the surrounding region,” said Carrie Willetts, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital. “What makes this initiative unique is the incredible support, partnership and engagement we have received from so many in the local, state, regional and national levels.”
Glad – who noted that he was born at Uniontown Hospital nearly 61 years ago – said physicians, certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners and physician assistants will provide obstetric care to patients.
Zosky, who was a nurse in the former labor and delivery department, and surgical technician Chealsie Diamond said the birthing center addresses the increasing maternity desert women in rural counties are encountering.
“This is very much needed. There are a lot of women who are having to drive long distances, and are going out of state, to get to a hospital,” said Diamond.
A portion of the birthing center is being funded through philanthropic gifts.
Said Albert L. Wright Jr., president and CEO of WVU Health System, “This marks an important milestone for Uniontown Hospital and the community it serves. “I’m grateful to (Carrie Willetts) and her team for making this all happen, as well as the many generous donors who stepped up to make this a reality. This was a heavy lift, but the right thing to do for the community and our patients.”