Hospital opens new women's center

Business Today

POPLAR BLUFF -- Three Rivers Healthcare's new Women's Health Center opened to patients following a community open house April 22

The 37,390-square-foot Women's Health Center houses the region's newest maternity unit. That unit has nine labor, delivery, recovery (LDR) rooms, 22 postpartum beds, two observations rooms, an on-unit C-section operating suite and a full-term nursery with space to expand.

The $5 million facility is the centerpiece of the women's health services that Three Rivers Healthcare provides. These services include obstetrics, gynecology services, diagnostic imaging and breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment.

"The Women's Health Center is a new facility that will offer a great environment for both our patients and staff," said Tim Brady, president and CEO. "Three Rivers Healthcare is the definite regional center for obstetrical care in our area."

Brady said the number of births at Three Rivers Healthcare has been increasing yearly. An estimated 1,700 babies will be delivered at the hospital in 2001.

"The Women's Health Center, with its LDR rooms and large nursery, will provide a comfortable and secure atmosphere for new mothers and their babies," said Brenda Sparkman, director of obstetrics and pediatrics.

Sparkman said the LDR rooms have a homelike environment that is conducive to families participating in the birth.

The Women's Health Center is the first of several construction projects to be completed at Three Rivers Healthcare.

Under construction is a new area for the intensive care unit. The 5,096-square -foot addition is being built at the end of Second Wing behind the new Women's Health Center. The 10-bed unit is expected to be completed by June.

When the ICU project is completed, work will begin on the expansion of the emergency room.