Home Information Departments Resources Jobs Directories Site Map

Labor & Delivery

Birthing Suites

Southwest Memorial Hospital enjoys a dedicated medical and nursing staff whose experience delivering many of our newest residents (there were 218 deliveries at Southwest Memorial Hospital during 2003) shows in their day-to-day activities. The hospital has two birthing suites featuring special birthing beds, a comfortable home-like atmosphere and furnishings along with special equipment to care for newborns. There’s also a rocking chair for private moments alone with the newborn and for those special "introductions" when children, friends and relatives first meet the newest member of the family.

Staff/Assignment

Upon admission to SWMH mothers to be are assigned to an obstetrical nurse trained to handle all phases of the birth process. When the time comes for delivery, the patient has her nurse with her – someone the patient is familiar with – in a private and secure environment. The patient is made to feel they are never among strangers or strange surroundings, and the patient won’t be separated from family, unless they need to be alone.

Tri-coordinators provide general supervision of the unit. They are responsible for daily operations and competencies.

Co-Medical Directors for the Family Birthing Unit are Hope Barkhurst, M.D. and Dianna Fury, M.D. and the two are responsible for assuring performance of medical staff functions which obstetrics and the newborn nursery are responsible for providing.

Dr. Barkhurst is Board Certified in Family Practice medicine and has been on the staff of SWMH since 1996. She received her initial medical training at the University of New Mexico and completed a Family Medicine residency program at Texas Tech University.

Dr. Fury is Board Certified in Family Practice medicine and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice Physicians. She has been a member of the hospital staff since 1992. Her medical training was completed at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and she completed a Family Practice residency program at St. Mary Hospital, Grand Junction.

Equipment

Sophisticated monitoring equipment keeps the physician and nursing staff apprised of the medical condition of both mom and baby throughout the birth process. Trained labor and delivery nurses concentrate on making the birth experience as comfortable and safe as possible. Nursery and rooming-in-services are provided after the baby’s birth.

Visitors

The birth of a child is an exciting event and one in which family and friends love to share. But is also a tiring time for mom. Moms and babies only stay an average of 1.5 days and that is not much time for mom to rest and get to know her baby. Fathers, grandparents and siblings are welcome to visit mother and new baby in the hospital any time after the baby is born. Visiting children should be over twelve years old unless they are siblings. Friends are requested to limit visits to half hour time periods in order to allow new mothers time to rest and enjoy some private time with their families.

To protect the health of mothers and babies, people with contagious illnesses will not be allowed to visit. The safety and security of the newborn is important to the hospital and the new parents as well.

Safety

Specific information and instructions are given to parents concerning security. While keeping baby safe begins in the hospital, safety should become a lifetime objective.

Hearing Screening

Every baby born at SWMH will receive a hearing screening. The test is performed while the baby is asleep. It takes about 15 minutes and is painless. The screening provides early identification and intervention of hearing loss. Prior to newborn testing the average age of diagnosis was 2.5 years. If undetected and untreated, hearing loss can lead to delayed speech and language development, social and emotional problems, and academic failure.

The Nurseries

Hospital nurseries are "designated" according to the kind of care they can provide for infants. The Level I nursery cares for well babies and normal infants only. They also have the capability to stabilize the newborn that because of medical problems may need transport to a higher level nursery. Level II nurseries provide care for infants with medical problems that may necessitate a higher level of care i.e. a neonatologist or NICU trained nurse. Level III nurseries provide the highest level of care for sick infants who need special medical, surgical and cardiac services, such as full life support for prematurity or post operative care for congenital defects. SWMH provides Level I or Basic nursery care plus care for the mildly compromised stable newborn to stabilization and transport of the sick neonate.

SWMH provides a comprehensive nursery staffed by specially trained nurses certified in neonatal resuscitation to ensure the safety and health of newborn patients. Childbirth education classes and mother and baby education are offered to help the family prepare for the new baby, and our staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to answer questions during and after the hospital stay. 

Site Search

Legal Notices | Contact List | Webmaster

©2007 Southwest Memorial Hospital
All Rights Reserved
1311 N. Mildred Rd. • Cortez, Co, 81321
Main Hospital: 970-565-6666 • Emergency Room: 970-564-2025