Why women keep choosing Holy Cross Health for maternity and perinatal care in the D.C. metro region
March 14, 2024
More babies are born at Holy Cross in Silver Spring than at any other birthing hospital in Maryland or the District of Columbia.
By Laura Newpoff – Contributor
Madeline Rose visited Holy Cross Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in her cap and gown after graduating from high school in 2019. She wanted to personally thank the NICU team for the care she received nearly 18 years earlier when she was born prematurely and weighed just 2.5 pounds.
“She came with her family directly from her high school graduation to let our team in the NICU know that if it weren’t for them, she wouldn’t have walked across the stage that day,” said Nancy Nagel, vice president of women’s and children’s services at Holy Cross Health. “For graduation, she had her family and friends donate to our foundation so other premature babies can receive the care they need to get off to a good start in life.”
Caring for more critically ill newborns than any other NICU in Maryland
The 46-bed NICU is located at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring. Designated as a Level III unit, it offers a high degree of complex, quality care and access to a wide range of pediatric specialists for critically ill newborns. The NICU features cutting edge technology to treat babies who are born early or have medical complications that require constant observation or specialized care. According to Holy Cross Health, the unit is one of the largest NICUs in Maryland and cares for many critically ill newborns.
The health system also has a Level II unit at its Holy Cross Germantown Hospital. This is a Special Care Nursery for babies born up to two months early who need care and support due to breathing or feeding problems, or they require an incubator due to immature thermoregulation. The nursery also cares for full-term infants who may have trouble transitioning after birth, or need initial antibiotics, phototherapy or some form of breathing support. The Holy Cross Germantown Hospital Special Care Nursery is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of pediatricians, neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatologists, NICU nurses, social workers, lactation specialists, and others, who work together to ensure babies in upper Montgomery County also have the best beginning in life, and their families are well supported.
Overall, the experienced experts at Holy Cross Health deliver approximately 10,000 babies a year. More babies are born at Holy Cross in Silver Spring than at any other birthing hospital in Maryland or the District of Columbia.
“It’s not just the numbers we pride ourselves on,” said Nagel, who has been with the health system for more than 40 years. “Women continue to choose to have their babies here because they have confidence in us. Just this week, while I was doing my rounds, I walked into a room and the new mom said, ‘I was born here and I’d like you to meet my mother.’ There were three generations of Holy Cross patients right there in the same room. That’s what means the most to us.”
Patient-centered care for women and babies before, during, and after birth
Holy Cross Health offers services that begin at the start of a pregnancy with prenatal care and continues through post-birth care for mom and the newborn. It combines compassionate patient-centered care with the most sophisticated monitoring equipment and pain-management protocols to create the conditions for a successful birthing experience.
The maternity teams at both Holy Cross Health hospitals are birthing experts who work hand-in-hand with new mothers and their designated support people. These teams include obstetricians, laborists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, registered nurses, lactation consultants, and other professionals who collaborate to provide the best care for mom and baby.
At Holy Cross Health, labor and delivery rooms are private, home-like environments that have cable television, private bathrooms, and family zones with a sleeper sofa and other amenities. The state-of-the-art units are equipped for cesarean sections and high-risk births.
Once a mom gives birth, she recovers in a spacious private post-partum maternity suite furnished with a bassinet to keep the newborn close to her. Suites also feature comfortable furniture for visitors, muted colors, and subdued lighting to promote rest and recuperation. Additionally, they have a private bathroom, cable television, and free Wi-Fi.
“We offer all the latest services and top amenities and that’s important because it makes the birthing experience comfortable and memorable,” Nagel says. “But the core of what we offer is the support and best care possible for the mom and baby.”
The kind of care Nagel is referring to includes the Perinatal Diagnostic Center at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, which offers diagnostic testing and ongoing care for women who are experiencing high-risk pregnancies. The center’s team of maternal-fetal medicine specialists work in collaboration with a patient’s obstetrician to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Increasing equitable access to quality prenatal and perinatal care
Last August, the Holy Cross Health Foundation was awarded $552,000 by the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation to help increase equitable access to quality prenatal and perinatal care. Through the investment, Holy Cross Health will expand clinical education, ensuring a healthy start for all babies and families who receive care through the hospital system every day.
Many of Holy Cross Health’s women and infant initiatives provide care for the local underserved, uninsured, under-insured and immigrant families who otherwise would not have access to quality health care. The programs help to lessen the economic strain on families by offering a comprehensive approach to care. Families have access to staff with specialized education and training, to focus on the best possible outcome, if the unexpected occurs.
Two women and infants’ initiatives include the Tiny Baby Program and Holy Cross Health OB/GYN Clinic. Both provide a holistic approach to care and work in partnership with mothers who have often been overlooked.
Nagel said the funding also will be used for training. Holy Cross Health purchased Gaumard’s VICTORIA® birthing simulator to train staff on early pregnancy complications, high-risk deliveries, postpartum emergencies, and other obstetrical events to facilitate teamwork and deepen critical thinking skills for learners at all levels.
In addition, the health system purchased Gaumard’s Premie Hal® preterm patient simulator that’s designed to facilitate the training of residents and health care professionals in the areas of preterm airway management, resuscitation, stabilization, transport, and intensive care.
Funding also will be spent on educational programming for staff to better equip them to deliver culturally competent care for diverse populations, remove bias from care, and help them aid mothers who are experiencing abuse.
“Our mission is to care for the entire community, including those who don't have access to care,” Nagel said. “These are the babies who will be taking care of me one day if we help them get the care they deserve. The healthier start we can give to all mothers and babies —including from historically underserved areas — the better it is for the future of our entire community.”
Learn more about how Holy Cross Health is bringing patient-centered care to women and babies. Get outstanding care in your backyard.
Laura Newpoff is a freelance writer with The Business Journals Content Studio.