Author: Sarah Barber
Thinking of starting a family in the next couple of months? You could deliver at McLaren's new state-of-the-art Birth Place.
A clean slate. A fresh canvas. A blank piece of paper. This is what McLaren Greater Lansing started with when it found out it had the opportunity to build a brand new $600 million hospital.
Patient care looked much different when the current hospital was built, some parts more than 100 years ago. Now, more than a century later, patient safety, equipment and technology, and the health care process have changed, and that means the physical environment and facilities needed to change too. One area that has seen many new physical changes is the Birth Place.
“Our teams worked with the community, OB-GYN physicians, and the staff in the Birth Place to build a unit that is patient-centric for moms and babies,” said Austin Holcomb, McLaren Greater Lansing director of facilities management.
The new Birth Place at McLaren Greater Lansing will have many new and convenient features, such as USB outlets for charging devices; individual thermostats in the rooms; bathrooms equipped with both a bath and shower; and a designated space for husbands, partners, and other support people, which includes a couch, reclining chair, and other seating options that can be moved out of the way when not in use.
“We know that it’s best for moms and babies to stay together during their time in the hospital to bond and promote breastfeeding,” said Elizabeth Lindsey, DO. “Because of that we designed the rooms to be larger and more versatile, to allow for mom and baby to comfortably stay in the room for their entire stay, which includes while mom is laboring, delivering, and in post-partum recovery.”
Once you have gotten situated, you won’t need to pack up and move to different rooms during your stay. This also promotes a safer environment during COVID-19.
“After we started building the department, it was brought to our attention that moms may sometimes need to visit the nursery in their beds. We expanded the nursery and widened the doorways to allow moms in beds and wheelchairs to easily be in the nursery with their babies “while they are waiting for transfer, are in medical distress, or are having routine procedures,” said Holcomb.
Surgical suites were also added in the department. If an emergency C-section is needed, patients are only a few feet from where they will receive surgical care.
“It was exciting to be a part of the planning process and have the chance to effect real change that will provide a better birth experience for my patients for years to come,” said Dr. Lindsey.
McLaren Greater Lansing’s new hospital campus will be opening in early 2022. If you are interested in delivering at the new hospital and looking for an OB-GYN, click here to schedule an appointment with an OB-GYN provider who is accepting new patients in 4 weeks or less.