Wlaf1450KNOXVILLE, TN (WLAF) – Construction at The Birthing Center at Tennova Healthcare’s North Knoxville Medical Center in Powell is nearly complete – with just a few finishing touches remaining – and the labor and delivery staff is preparing to welcome the first baby born there.
The 17,500-square-foot maternity unit features private patient rooms, the latest technology, and experienced physicians, labor and delivery nurses, certified nurse midwives, and other clinical staff. It is anticipated that The Birthing Center will be fully operational in early February, pending a certificate of occupancy from the Tennessee Department of Health.
“For over a decade, the healthcare team at North Knoxville Medical Center has been delivering quality, compassionate care to patients and families in this community,” said Clyde Wood, chief executive officer of North Knoxville Medical Center. “With the grand opening of our beautiful, new birthing center, we’re extending our care to include labor and delivery. The feedback from the community has been extremely positive as this service is much needed for residents in Powell and the surrounding area.”
According to Wood, the new center includes eight birthing suites for labor, delivery and recovery as well as a fully equipped newborn nursery and C-section operating room. “The Birthing Center has a family-friendly environment with modern décor and special amenities, including spa-inspired bathrooms with spacious showers, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions in every patient room, and a sleeper sofa for the birth partner. It’s all about creating a special space for mom and baby, and enhancing the birth experience for families,” Wood said.
Upon opening, The Birthing Center at North Knoxville Medical Center will offer a full spectrum of maternity services from prenatal to postpartum care, such as specialized care for C-section deliveries, lactation counseling and support, and educational resources to meet the needs of new parents. Services offered will include fetal monitoring, midwifery care including water labor, and 24/7 anesthesiology services for medication and epidural administration during labor.
“The physicians, nurse midwives and other staff at The Birthing Center are committed to providing every mom-to-be with personalized care in a safe and comfortable environment,” said Leonard Brabson, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with Tennova Healthcare. Dr. Brabson has delivered more than 15,000 babies in his 43-year career. “Pregnancy, childbirth and parenting are among the most precious moments in life—and at Tennova we want to make sure it’s a time the whole family will remember with joy.”
The spacious birthing suites feature a labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum (LDRP) model that keeps mother and child together from admission to discharge. The larger rooms also accommodate larger family support networks.
“The LDRP model provides us the opportunity for hands-on education with parents while their newborn is right beside them in the room,” said Stacy Wood, RN, director of women’s services at North Knoxville Medical Center. “Our nurses train parents in infant care, including safe sleep practices and learning to read their baby’s cues, such as whether they’re hungry or sleepy. Rooming in is also a great way for moms and babies to bond in those precious early hours of life.”
North Knoxville Medical Center offers a wide range of classes designed to prepare families for their newest addition, including classes for expectant parents, infant CPR, and sibling classes. Learn more at tennovanorthknoxville.com/classes-events.
To find a physician or certified nurse midwife that delivers at North Knoxville Medical Center, call 866-APPT-TMG (866-277-8864) or visit TennovaMedicalGroup.com. To schedule a private tour of The Birthing Center, call 865-647-3450. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/15/2020-6AM)