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cheer hospital of the week: Merit Health Wesley!

1/28/2019

Comments

 
PictureMerit Health Wesley
​Congratulations to CHAMPS Hospital Merit Health Wesley in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on December 4, 2018! Merit Health Wesley, with approximately 1,100 births per year and a level III NICU, is the third Merit Health hospital in Mississippi to become Baby-Friendly. 
 
“It was a very exciting day for us when we received that call that we were designated Baby Friendly,” shares Vicki Walters, RN, BSN, Director of Women’s Services/NICU/Pediatrics and CHAMPS Assistant Team Lead at Merit Health Wesley. “It is rewarding to have all our staff’s efforts acknowledged. But even more rewarding is the knowledge that we are doing things the right way for our moms and babies.”
 
Merit Health Wesley’s Baby-Friendly journey began 3 years ago. Vicki shares that one of their challenges was the fact that their unit originated as a true Labor, Delivery, Recovery, Postpartum model with patient-centered couplet care, and because of that, they did not think they had a lot of obstacles to overcome. However, they soon realized that changes had to be made regarding policy, procedure, timing of tasks, and what they had perceived as “convenience” to staff. They also invested time in redesigning their patient education. 

PictureMerit Health Wesley Baby-Friendly Team
​According to Vicki, the biggest difference Baby-Friendly has made for maternity services at Merit Health Wesley is the improved way they now educate their patients and families. She says they are now very involved in the community, and that they utilize existing resources in the community to reinforce the teaching they give to families. They also now include the extended family in the education process.
 
Vicki would like to thank her entire staff for their contributions, and especially Penne Satcher, RN, CLC, CHAMPS Team Lead, for her invaluable leadership. Penne coordinated all the audits and teaching, and helped everyone stay on track with her organizational skills. 
 
What is Vicki’s advice to other hospitals seeking to become Baby-Friendly?
 
“Start your journey today,” she says. “Utilizing the Ten Steps will ensure your success. Rely on others’ experiences to assist you along the way. Network with any of us that have been through the process. Select a team leader with great organizational skills, and no, you may not have Penne. Keep your audit results out there in front of the staff, and don’t just assume everything is being retained by your patients.”
 
We applaud Merit Health Wesley’s accomplishments and the excellent care they are providing to mothers and babies! 

Comments

    CHEER Champion of the week

    Each week, we will recognize a CHEER Champion for all the work they have done for CHEER (Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research)/CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Practices). 

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© Center for Health Equity, Education, & Research
Boston Medical Center
​
88 E. Newton St., Vose 315, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 414.6466
  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
    • History
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Support Our Work
  • CHAMPS
    • Mississippi CHAMPS
    • AI/AN CHAMPS
    • CHAMPS South
    • Trainings
    • Webinars
    • Conferences
    • Become a CHAMPS Hospital
  • AI/AN Health
    • AI/AN CHAMPS
    • MSPI/DVPI Technical Assistance
    • CHAs and CHIPs >
      • Blackfeet Community Health Assessment
      • Northern Cheyenne Community Health Assessment
      • Rocky Boy's Community Health Assessment
      • Blackfeet Community Health Improvement Plan
    • Indigenous Breastfeeding Counselor Course
    • Drug Use Prevention >
      • Drug Use Prevention Blackfeet
      • Healthy Mothers, Healthy Tribe Initiative
  • CHEER International
    • CHEER Greece >
      • CHAMPS Hospitals: Greece
      • CHEER Greece: Refugees >
        • Infant Feeding Training in Athens
        • Infant Feeding Data in Athens
        • Camp Mapping
      • IYCFE Resources
    • International Conferences >
      • ISRHML >
        • ISRHML 2016 - South Africa
        • ISRHML 2018 - Japan
      • Conferences in the UK >
        • UNICEF UK 2018
        • MAINN
      • Conferences in Greece >
        • Greece - 13th Breastfeeding Seminar
        • Greece - Postgraduate Seminar
    • Za'atar and Project Layali
  • News
    • News from CHEER
    • News from the Field
  • Resources
    • Breastfeeding/Baby-Friendly Resources >
      • Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative
      • Current Research
      • Useful Websites
      • Policy Statements & Position Papers
      • Training for Healthcare Professionals
      • Patient Education Materials
      • Breastfeeding in the Workplace
      • Breastfeeding in Scripture
      • Breastfeeding and the Law
    • Our Publications
  • Champions