As the new coronavirus continues to spark change throughout the health care system -- and the nation in general -- Munson Healthcare has altered its labor and delivery regulations, according to UpNorthLive.
For starters, the women who check into the facility are tested for the virus as soon as they arrive in the emergency room.
Mary Schubert, the executive director of women’s and children’s services at the hospital, stated that if an expectant mother tests positive, or if there’s speculation that she has the virus, she would be taken to a satellite obstetrics (OB) space, she told UpNorthLive.
“… it is staffed by experienced labor and delivery nurses, experienced OB physicians and our neonatologists are covering the babies that are born there so that we have no mixing of the COVID positive or suspect patients… and patients who screen negative,” said Schubert, according to UpNorthLive.
The expectant mom will also be allowed just one support person, along with a doula, who is permitted to be in the room under current state laws. But Schubert said even that could change soon. Visitors are no longer allowed in the labor and delivery area after the infant is born.
Alerts Sign-up