Hospital honored for maternity care
Plumas District Hospital, the smallest hospital in the state to still offer obstetrics, has once again earned the BETA Healthcare Group Award of Excellence.
This is the eighth year in a row that PDH has been recognized for achieving 100 percent compliance in the “Quest for Zero” preventable birth injuries initiative.
“Receiving this award eight years in a row is no coincidence. It is the result of tons of hard work and a commitment to quality and excellence in every aspect of our OB program, including newborn care,” said Dr. Jeff Kepple, PDH chief executive officer.
In 2007, PDH made a voluntary decision to participate in a statewide evidenced-based risk management obstetrics initiative. Participation in the initiative required that hospitals demonstrate compliance in several key areas such as fetal heart monitoring and analysis, team communication strategies and emergency management in labor and delivery. In addition, the hospital had to demonstrate patient and family centered care, patient safety, data visibility and transparency.
“It has taken the perseverance and teamwork of all of the nursing and medical staff to reach the stage where we can proudly hold up this award as a mark of our achievement,” said Pat Everhart, chief nursing officer. “This accomplishment is not something that anyone did alone; it’s thanks to dedicated teamwork, and sharing of knowledge and experience that we are able to provide the highest quality care to infants and new mothers.”
PDH offers 24-hour obstetric services. There are currently four family practitioners providing obstetric care — Erin Barnes, M.D.; Joseph Schad D.O.; E. Paige Lewis M.D.; and Alexandra Hunt. M.D. All four physicians are accepting new maternity patients.
In addition, the hospital offers childbirth classes for expectant individuals several times per year. For more information about childbirth classes or PDH’s maternity services, call 283-2121 or visit pdh.org.
