The Jackson family knew they were in good hands while at the Women’s Center at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center. Their twins were born prematurely. For several weeks, nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) cared for the babies until they were strong enough to go home.

“They took care of my babies like they were their own children,” says Tera Jackson. “It made me feel good to see that.”

The environment of the NICU Level III unit is unique. There are individual rooms for infant care with low lighting to make it more comfortable for the babies. Space is also designed with parents in mind, allowing them to be at the bedside of their children. Features include curtains for privacy, rocking chairs and “rooming-in” rooms for parents. Those rooms are for families to use with their infants before the baby is discharged.

“We take pride in the care we provide the families here. This is a very important time in their lives,” says Letha Grellner, RN, clinical director of the Women’s Center.

The Women’s Center has achieved a 95 percent or greater annual rating in patient satisfaction results. Grellner says her staff is well-trained in their fields. A 12-week orientation with a skilled preceptor is required for all.

Besides a quality staff, the Women’s Center has implemented new security measures for the safety of mothers and their babies. Cameras and a speaker device are mounted at entrances to the center, allowing staff to see potential visitors. Guests now must push a button to alert the staff and provide the patient’s full name in order to be allowed entry into the center.

“We want to exercise due diligence in providing the most secure unit for our women and children during their hospital stay,” says Grellner. “This new measure creates a safe environment and gives families peace of mind.”

The staff is also trained to share security recommendations. For instance, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children advises limiting access to personal information by avoiding birth announcements in local newspapers.

“As advocates for patient rights, our responsibility is to educate parents of these risks and respect their right to make their own decisions,” says Grellner.

INTEGRIS Health 3300 N.W. Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (405) 949-3011 | HealthLine: (888) 951-2277