Mon Health Medical Center in Morgantown, W.Va., is partnering with Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC to improve access to newborn care at the Mon Health Family Birth Center, according to a WBOY report.
"Our goal is to make sure we can have safe care, more comprehensive care and never really have to transfer [a] mom or baby anywhere," said Darryl Duncan, president and CEO of Mon Health Medical Center. Each year, 1,200 babies are delivered at the The Mon Health Birth Center, which includes 16 private birthing suites.
UPMC neonatologists and nurse practitioners will work with Mon Health physicians and nurses to provide care in the newborn nursery. They will eventually work in the emergency department and inpatient unit.
"Currently we deliver babies here that have made 36 weeks gestation and above," Mr. Duncan said. "Our goal with this new partnership is to go all the way down to 32 weeks, so [a] mom and baby wouldn't have to go anywhere as long as they make that 32 week mark."
The partnership will take effect in spring 2018.