St. Luke's will retain two delivery rooms for mothers who choose that option or need extra medical support for complicated or Caesarean deliveries. Two of the center's three labor rooms and the nearby father's waiting room will be converted to a five-bed outpatient center for the growing number of obstetrical outpatient procedures. St. Luke's handles some 200 outpatient visits a month for nonstress testing, general observation and blood pressure monitoring, according to Cain. The nursing station will expand to work more efficiently with the new outpatient center. The project will move the current well-baby nursery to a new nursery area to be located among the mothers' and family suites.
Plans also call for new carpeting and other touch-ups in the mothers' suites area.
The former nursery space will be modified to create a new labor room and waiting room for fathers and families. Work will be completed in three major phases to reduce disruption to patients, family members and visitors and allow the birthing center staff to continue care for new mothers and infants, said Cain. St. Luke's nurses have helped deliver some 28,000 infants and witnessed many changes since the medical center moved its obstetrics department from the old Methodist Hospital to its second floor location in the central building in 1979, said Cain. Our nurses are excited about the renovation project, because they know the changes will meet the interests and needs of patients. The creation of the outpatient center especially reflects a major change in obstetrical care, added Dr. Paul Eastman, Sioux City obstetrician and gynecologist.