Mission Hospital announced today that it has opened three midwifery birthing suites within The Birth Center at Mission Hospital. Mission Hospital is the second hospital in the State of California to offer an in-hospital birth center to its patients. The private Midwifery Suites have queen size beds, spacious laboring tubs and are staffed by midwives and nurses who have been educated on physiologic birth. The Birth Center at Mission Hospital offers aromatherapy, spa-like amenities including massage, LED candles as well as sound bars in all of the suites.
“We are pleased to provide our community with The Birth Center at Mission Hospital, giving families the option to deliver in a comfortable, home-like environment, while still being supported by the advanced services of a specialty hospital as well as south Orange County’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), in partnership with CHOC Children’s at Mission Hospital,” said Tarek Salaway, chief executive of Mission Hospital.
“Birth is not a medical procedure but a natural, physiological process. We whole-heartedly support empowering women to create their ultimate birth experience,” says Kenneth James, MD, medical director of the midwifery program at Mission Hospital and at Laguna Beach OB/GYN. “Our thriving midwifery practice is centered around a woman’s desire for the best possible birthing experience. We are thrilled to be able to provide this experience in partnership with Mission Hospital, with its reputation for high quality, patient-centered care.”
Mission Hospital supports women in having a safe, empowering birth experience by offering a full continuum of birthing options, including natural birth. Patients and their families are able to stay in comfortable suites from the time they arrive at the hospital in active labor through discharge.
Mission Hospital partners with OB/GYN specialists to provide midwifery services. Mission Hospital’s Midwifery team includes Allison Molinski, CNM; Nancy Pol, MSN, RN, CNM; Elaine Kopinga, MSN, CNM, WHNP; and, B.J. Snell, PhD, CNM, FACNM. Kenneth James, MD, is the Medical Director of Midwifery Services at Mission Hospital and is also the Medical Director for Laguna Beach OB/GYN.
The Role of Doulas in Pregnancy and Childbirth
Doulas can also play an important role in the birth experience. The wisdom and emotional support provided by a doula during the time of birth is an ancient tradition. This tradition has continued through the centuries, and is now carried on by doulas in support of a mother who is expecting, experiencing labor or has recently given birth.
A doula can help expecting mothers with walking during labor, breathing techniques, positioning assistance, specific massage techniques, verbal reassurance and spouse or partner guidance. Women who deliver at The Birth Center at Mission Hospital, have the option of working with a certified doula who are for hire through DONA International, the leader in evidence-based doula training, certification and continuing education. Women can partner with a doula regardless of the type of birth they choose to have at Mission Hospital. Doulas are welcome with OB/GYN doctors as well as midwives.
Certified Baby Friendly™ Hospital
As a certified Baby Friendly™ Hospital, Mission Hospital is a member of a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which encourages and recognizes hospitals that offer an optimum level of care for lactation. This designation is quite an honor, as only 243 U.S. hospitals and birthing centers in 46 states and the District of Columbia hold the Baby Friendly designation.
Women’s Choice Award
Mission Hospital has received the 2018 Women’s Choice Award® as one of America’s best hospitals for Obstetrics. The methodology for America’s Best Hospital for Obstetrics Award is unique in that it combines national accreditations, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results and hospital outcome scores with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. It is the only award recognizing excellence in obstetric services based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.
5-Star Quality Rating
Mission Hospital has received the prestigious 5-Star rating award—the highest possible score—for Quality of Care by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), according to the December 2017 report by Medicare.gov on the Hospital Compare site. Mission Hospital is one of only two hospitals in Orange County to receive a 5-star rating. The ratings published by CMS are designed to help consumers make more informed decisions by comparing hospitals evaluating safety, clinical quality and patient experiences at more than 4,000 hospitals nationwide. Mission Hospital was one of only 337 hospitals in the United States, and one of only two hospitals in Orange County, to receive the Five-Star rating for 2017. The national average for hospitals is three out of five stars.
To learn more about Laguna Beach OB/GYN or to find a midwife, visit LagunaBeachObGyn.com. To learn more about The Birth Center at Mission Hospital visit Mission4Health.com/Baby.
About Mission Hospital
Mission Hospital is a state-of-the art, 523-bed acute care regional medical center in Mission Viejo, California. As one of the busiest designated adult and pediatric Level II Trauma Centers in the state of California, Mission Hospital provides a full range of reputable specialty health care services with highly skilled teams treating a multitude of complex conditions. Services include a full range of expertise in cardiovascular, neuroscience and spine, orthopedics, cancer care, women’s services, mental health and wellness, head and neck, and a variety of other specialty services. Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach (MHLB) provides South Orange County coastal communities with 24-hour emergency and intensive care as well as medical-surgical/telemetry services, orthopedics, general and GI surgery. CHOC Children’s at Mission Hospital is a 54-bed facility that is the area’s only dedicated pediatric hospital.
Fully accredited by The Joint Commission and designated as a Magnet hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence, Mission Hospital is highly recognized for its high quality of care, evidenced through a multitude of healthcare quality benchmarks. Mission Hospital is part of St. Joseph Health, a not-for-profit provider of integrated health care. Together, we work to improve the quality of life in the communities it serves in the tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. For more information, visit www.mission4health.com.
