Cheers Winter 2014

s r e e h C

CE LE B R AT ING YO U R H EA LTH

Winter 2014 | Vol. 4, No. 1

The Art of . r e ow p of e c r ou s e h t s i t i ; k hin

HEALING

t . o t m e do s m i wi t e of k a T tion a d n ou f e h t s i t i ; d . e g e n n o ou t y e g m n i i t y a e k st Ta of et r c e s e h t . l s i ou t s i y ; h y t a l k e p e o s t to y t i n u t or Take time p op e h t s i t . i s r ; e t e h i t o u q p e l e b h o e t Cancer Center he opportunity to Take timDorcy t s i t i ; provides healing touch e . r t a f i w g a e st e b t o a t e r e g m body, mind, and soul. ’s d o G s Take tifor i t i ; d ove l e b d n a Page 3 ove l o . l ou s e h t of Take time t c i s u m e h t s i t i ; h . g s u s e a l n i o p t p e a h m i o t t d a o Take r e h t s i t i ; y l d n e i . r of f e e d b a o t m e s i m i e t r u t u f Take e h t t a wh s ti i ; . h m t a r e a r e d o on t r e e m i ow t p st e t a Take e r g e h t s i t i ; e t a t i d e m o t Take time

PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY

Joseph and Mary Mantini rely on each other and a variety of programs to support their emotional journey through cancer.

Find affordable health insurance.

Celebrate National Heart Month with St. Mary-Corwin.

Learn when ADD is a sleep problem.

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Page 6 ILLUSTRATION: HEART ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MA_RISH

IMPROVING CARE

A

lthough it’s been only six months since my family and I moved to Pueblo so that I could take the helm of St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center, the warm welcome provided by this community has made us feel like we have been lifelong residents. Thank you so much for taking us in and taking such good care of us.

Taking care of one another is a big part of this community, and it’s at the heart of our mission. For more than 130 years, the associates, physicians, and volunteers at St. Mary-Corwin have poured their hearts and hands into providing the absolute best care and the most compassionate care they can give to each patient.

That effort shows in our patient St. Mary-Corwin is one of satisfaction scores as well as our just 11 hospitals in the quality measures.

St. Mary-Corwin country to receive The associates and physicians provide Leapfrog Group Website some of the state’s highest quality of Transparency Award for care to the people in this community. excellence in providing the And this is verified by independent public with quality measures. agencies.

To learn more about St. For example, did you realize that St. Mary-Corwin outscores other Mary-Corwin’s quality Colorado hospitals in all seven ratings, please go online to measures of surgery quality? In fact, stmarycorwin.org/quality. we achieved perfect scores in three of those categories. Likewise, we outscored the Colorado average in five out of nine measures of quality in heart care, and we achieved perfect scores in two measures of caring for patients with pneumonia.

Recently, CIGNA Health Insurance designated St. MaryCorwin a Center of Excellence in cardiac care and obstetrics.

This follows Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s designation of St. Mary-Corwin as a Blue Distinction Center for hip and knee replacement surgery. These designations recognize the nation’s best hospitals for overall quality, lower readmission rates, and fewer complications. That’s right — St. MaryCorwin is one of the best hospitals in the nation for cardiac care, obstetrics, and hip and knee joint replacements.

So just as you have taken good care of me and my family, I want to assure you that we will take good care of you and your loved ones should you ever need us.

Need help navigating the Affordable Care Act?

T

hanks to the Affordable Care Act, everyone in the country can sign up for health insurance now — even if you don’t have a job or are struggling to make ends meet. Beginning in October 2013, Colorado started selling affordable health insurance online in what is called an “exchange.”

But before you sign up, you’ll have to make several choices.

For example, do you want Bronze, Silver, or Gold coverage?

And can you qualify for special discounts? The decisions are important, but they can be confusing.

That’s why Centura Health LINKS is excited to offer oneon-one assistance. We have four new Health Coverage Guides located in Pueblo on the St. Mary-Corwin campus who will sit with you and walk you through the sign-up process. They’ll help you choose the best plan for you and your family. And if your budget is in a pinch, they can help you save as much money as possible.

To learn more about Centura Health LINKS, a no-cost connection to experts and services that help you save money on health care, prescription drugs, and other medical expenses, visit centura.org/centura-health-links.

3 THINGS Coloradans should know

about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) 1. You can choose from three levels of coverage: Gold, Silver, and Bronze.

The healthcare.gov website lets you compare premiums, copays, and deductibles for each plan, side by side.

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Cheers | St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center

Coloradans are eligible for health insurance tax credits, so be sure to find out if you are one of them! Financial assistance is available to those in need.

3. Health Coverage Guides are impartial experts, paid by grants and not insurance companies.

Their job is to help you find a health plan that works for you.

 TO SCHEDULE an appointment with a Health

Coverage Guide, call 1-866-550-2752. A guide will meet with you in person for about two hours to help you through the process and answer your questions. Or come to a community forum where our ACA navigators will answer all your questions about the Affordable Care Act. 

Thu, Mar 6 | 2 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. (two sessions available)

Dorcy Cancer Center Call 719-557-3881 to RSVP.

Cheers to a wonderful new year,

Brian Moore President and CEO

2. Nearly 500,000

1008 Minnequa Avenue Pueblo, CO 81004 719-557-4000

ILLUSTRATION: COMPASS ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/BOOKA1

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center brings specialized care in the complex areas of cancer care, robotic surgery, joint replacement surgery, sports medicine, pediatrics, women’s services, cardiology, and more. We are part of Centura Health, the state’s largest health care network.

The purpose of this publication is to support our mission to improve the health of the residents in our community. No information in this publication is meant as a recommendation or as a substitution for your physician’s advice. If you would like to comment on this magazine, please email cheers@centura.org. Cheers is produced by Clementine Words LLC of Denver, Colo. Executive editor is Rochelle Kelly Wristen.

Y O U R H E A LT H

Whole-Health Healing St. Mary-Corwin treats the entire patient, not just his or her cancer Benefits of Healing Arts:

New ways to cope

• Foster creative self-expression and inner healing • Develop present-moment awareness to strengthen health • Decrease anxiety and chronic pain • Increase fitness level • Improve concentration • Reduce stress

In addition to medical treatments, the center offers counseling, support groups, spiritual care, an American Cancer Society Resource Center, a cancer resource library, and Healing Arts classes.

The Healing Arts program is a critical element of the center’s whole-person care, helping patients and cancer survivors — along with their families — deal with the physical battle against cancer as well as the stress, fatigue, and anxiety that accompany a cancer diagnosis. “It is important to focus on the whole person, and our Healing Arts program bridges the gap between traditional medicine and holistic health,” Gallassini says. “For example, stress relief is a common benefit from many of our classes. Reducing stress in healthy ways can increase one’s quality of life.”

At a center-sponsored breast cancer retreat last year, Mantini attended several Healing Arts classes, such as Tai Chi and Chair Yoga. She also enjoyed an art project making decorative stepping stones for the garden.

Mantini attended the retreat not only to learn how to support her husband but also to support her own health as a breast cancer survivor.

“My favorite program was drumming,” she says. “It helped me release a lot of emotions about memories of my breast cancer that I had been carrying around for years.”

PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY

M

ary Mantini thought that when she beat breast cancer 17 years ago, she was done. But between December 2012 and September 2013, her husband, Joseph, was diagnosed with three different types of cancer. And while she continues to build her own health, she now is helping to support her husband.

She’s finding some new resources to help her at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center’s Dorcy Cancer Center, where her husband is being treated.

There, experts are not just treating his physical health but also providing support for the couple’s emotional, mental, and spiritual health. Research is being conducted into whether holistic healing improves cancer outcomes, but it already has found that it helps improve quality of life that treating just the cancer can’t. In fact, a study in the journal Cancer found that patients with advanced cancer who had formal support reported much better quality of life than patients who did not.

“When people think of the word cancer, they probably think of treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation,” says Brenda Gallassini, a social worker and cancer program manager at the Dorcy Cancer Center.

It’s so much more than that, she explains. “Here at the Dorcy Cancer Center, we focus on the whole person.”

Come one, come all

Healing Arts classes are offered regularly at St. Mary-Corwin — and most are FREE. Classes include Tai Chi, Mindful Living, Expressive Movement, Belly Dancing, and Zumba®.

And while they’re tailored specifically to cancer patients, all community members are welcome to attend. The program’s Cancer Fit classes, which are provided for a small fee, are available to cancer survivors only.

Mantini and her husband take part in Cancer Fit. This exercise program is good for her husband because it keeps him moving, and it helps Mantini cope with the stress of caregiving.

“I’m glad they call it Healing Arts,” she says. “That’s really what it does.”

 GET A HEALING ARTS CLASS SCHEDULE and join cancer conversations at facebook.com/dorcycancercenter. 

Mary Mantini

stmarycorwin.org | Cheers

3

TEST

TIME

Tests for every heart February is National Heart Month.

Does your heart pass the test?

When it’s time to check your progress in a class, an instructor gives a test. Well, the same is true of your health. And when your doctor wants to assess how your heart is faring, there are various tests he or she can choose to give you. They range from simple blood tests to complex diagnostic hospital procedures. Here’s what you need to know about a few of these heart checks.

CHOLESTEROL TEST What it measures: A cholesterol test, which your doctor might also call a lipid panel, measures the cholesterol and triglycerides (a type of fat) in your blood. It’s important to have your cholesterol tested, because high cholesterol levels can be a major risk factor for heart disease. And high cholesterol rarely causes any noticeable symptoms until something major happens.

The test measures your total cholesterol as well your HDL and LDL cholesterol. HDL — high-density lipoprotein cholesterol — is known as the good cholesterol. HDL helps keep your arteries open so blood can flow easily. LDL, or lowdensity lipoprotein, on the other hand, is known as the bad cholesterol. That’s because LDL causes plaque buildup in the arteries, reducing the flow of blood.

You may read about special tests that measure the size of the cholesterol particles in the blood in addition to the amount. Your doctor can talk to you about whether there’s any benefit to such a test.

How it’s done: Blood is drawn from the arm.

Who needs it: Everyone older than 20.

How often: Every five years. But if you have high cholesterol or if you have additional risk factors for heart disease, your doctor may recommend more frequent testing.

BLOOD PRESSURE What it measures: This test, conducted at your doctor’s office, is used to measure the pressure in your arteries as your heart pumps. It is measured in milligrams of mercury (mm Hg) and is recorded as a ratio— systolic pressure (the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats) over diastolic pressure (the pressure in the arteries at rest between beats).

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Cheers | St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center

Left uncontrolled, high blood pressure, also called hypertension, can lead to heart disease, heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, peripheral artery disease, and more.

“For coronary artery disease, primary prevention is key,” says Jenny Lee, MD, a cardiologist at Pueblo Cardiology Associates who sees patients at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center. “So, if we can control things like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, and treat them appropriately, we can hopefully help prevent coronary artery disease.”

How it’s done: Your doctor, nurse, or physician’s assistant will wrap an inflatable cuff around your upper arm. He or she will inflate the cuff to stop the blood flow through the artery in your arm for just a moment, while listening to your pulse. You’ll then feel the cuff deflate as he or she completes the test.

Who needs it: Everyone age 20 and over.

How often: At your regular doctor’s appointments or at least every two years, as long as your blood pressure is lower than 120/80 mm Hg. If your blood pressure is higher, your doctor may recommend more frequent check-ins.

STRESS TESTS What it measures: While blood pressure and cholesterol tests are important for everyone, some tests, such as stress tests, are for people who show symptoms of heart problems. Stress tests are used to make sure your heart is getting enough blood.

How it’s done: A common type of stress test is the treadmill stress test.

As you walk on a treadmill, your heart is monitored to see how far you can walk and if you have chest pain or other changes.

“For patients who are unable to exercise on a treadmill, we can offer a chemical stress test, which does not require physical exercise,” Lee says.

During this kind of stress test,

St. Mary-Corwin has been designated a national Center of Excellence in cardiac care by CIGNA.

a drug is used to make your heart behave as though you are exercising.

Who needs it: People who have symptoms of limited blood flow to the heart. Your doctor might order a stress test, for example, if you’ve had chest pains or shortness of breath, Lee says.

How often: Only as prescribed for patients with symptoms of heart disease.

CORONARY ANGIOGRAM What it measures: An angiogram is the most common type of cardiac catheterization procedure. An angiogram helps diagnose heart conditions.

How it’s done: As you lie on a table, an IV line is inserted into your arm. You’ll likely be given a sedative so you can relax, but you’ll remain awake during the procedure.

Electrodes on your chest will help your care team monitor your heart as a catheter (tiny tube) is inserted into the groin or arm and then threaded to your heart. A dye is then injected through the catheter, and X-rays are taken of your heart, letting your doctor see if there are any blockages in your arteries.

Who needs it: People who show symptoms of heart disease, such as chest pain. “We often recommend cardiac catheterization in high-risk individuals and patients with abnormal stress tests,” Lee says.

How often: Only as needed.

Do I need a daily aspirin?

While many people take a daily “baby” aspirin to reduce their risk of heart problems, recent research shows that for some people a baby aspirin could do more harm than good. In a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers found that people who took aspirin regularly were 10 percent less likely to have a heart event — but they were also about 30 percent more likely to have a serious gastrointestinal bleeding episode.

For people who have had a previous heart attack, a daily aspirin regimen might be the best course of action, experts say. But as a preventive step for the general population, it’s probably best to skip it.

PHOTOS: HEART ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/COBALT; EGGS ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/JGROUP; BLOOD PRESSURE ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/ALEXKALINA; WOMAN ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/CHRISGRAMLY; ASPRIN ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/CHRISGRAMLY SD619; HEART RUN ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MA_RISH

What raises

YOUR RISK? According to the Pueblo County Community Health Status Report, the incidence of cardiovascular disease is 11.8 percent higher in Pueblo County than in Colorado statewide. It’s the second most common cause of death in the county behind cancer.

If you live in Pueblo County, here are a few things you should know that raise your risk: ETHNICITY. About 41 percent of the Pueblo population is Hispanic. (That’s 20 percent higher than the state average.) Hispanics are at greater risk for diabetes, a key risk factor for heart disease.

DIABETES. About 7.4 percent of Pueblo adults have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, compared with 5.4 percent statewide. A person with diabetes has a two to four times greater chance for heart disease or stroke than someone without diabetes. Over time, consistently high blood sugar levels can lead to deposits inside the blood vessel walls, which can reduce blood flow.

OBESITY. Being overweight or obese is a significant risk factor for heart disease. In Pueblo County, 23 percent of adults are overweight or obese, higher than Colorado’s 19 percent average.

INACTIVITY. People in Pueblo County are less likely to engage in physical activity than the rest of the state — a bad habit that directly affects your risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other health problems.

 GO RED FOR HEART HEALTH

at the 10th anniversary celebration of this heart extravaganza. FREE heart tests, Q&A sessions, and presentations by Dr. Jenny Lee, cardiologist, and Dr. Betty Kim, cardiac surgeon. 

Wed, Feb 5 | 5 p.m.

Dorcy Cancer Center Call 719-557-4639 to RSVP.

stmarycorwin.org | Cheers

5

ADOLESCENT

CARE

Night, Night When sleep problems in kids go beyond bad dreams

W

hen her son’s teacher called her in for a parentteacher conference three years ago, Brandi Martinez was surprised. “She told me she thought maybe Javen had attention deficit disorder,” Martinez recalls. “I thought, ‘No, he doesn’t have ADD.’”

PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY

Javen Martinez

But Martinez didn’t have any explanation for why Javen, 12 at the time, was having trouble in school or struggling to concentrate. A blood test showed elevated blood sugar, which Martinez also found odd since no one else in the family had diabetes.

Martinez, who works at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center as a registered sleep technologist and respiratory therapist, didn’t connect the two until she was at a professional conference in Denver a while later. “A doctor was talking about pediatric sleep apnea,” she explains. And he was describing Javen’s symptoms to a T, including elevated blood sugar and attention deficit concerns.

That’s when Martinez decided it was time for a sleep study for her son. And it’s a good thing she did.

“His airway was obstructed,” she says. “He wasn’t breathing right, and he was always so scattered from not sleeping enough. His tonsils were so big he couldn’t chew with his mouth closed because he couldn’t breathe.”

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Cheers | St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center

More common than thought

Javen isn’t alone. An estimated 30 percent of children will experience sleep problems at one point during childhood, according to the National Association of School Psychologists. And while “one night of poor sleep is not detrimental, consistently poor sleep is bad for your health,” says Gwen McCranie, sleep disorders center manager at St. Mary-Corwin.

One of the early signs is a child’s grades suffering, she says. If you think your child might be struggling to get a good night’s sleep, start by observing your child sleeping, taking notes to share with your doctor, and taking steps to correct it at home.

“The first line of self-treatment for a parent is sleep hygiene,” McCranie says. “Just as we get ready for our day with a morning routine, the mind and body need a bedtime routine that can improve the quality of our sleep. That means having a routine bedtime with a bedtime ritual — such as no computer, no TV, and no heavy eating before bed.” St. MaryCorwin offers FREE education and resources to help parents learn how to help kids get better sleep.

Plus, remember that kids need seven to 10 hours of sleep a night. Keep track of your child’s sleep patterns and what they do leading up to bedtime. “As you’re making those notes, you might even notice the problem yourself,” she says. But if not, it’s time to consult your child’s doctor; take the information you’ve gathered with you.

Your child’s pediatrician might recommend a sleep study — a painless test where a child spends a night sleeping in a comfortable, hotel-like lab setting so he or she can be observed. Javen’s sleep study showed that he wasn’t getting enough oxygen during sleep. It was recommended that he have his tonsils removed — a common treatment for children with sleep apnea, McCranie notes.

“The change was almost instant,” Martinez says. “Within two days, he was a different kid.”

 TAKE A TEST to see if your child might

An estimated

30% of children

with ADD

or ADHD

have undiagnosed sleep apnea.

be experiencing sleep problems. Go online to stmarycorwin.org/sleep to take the FREE online quiz and a St. Mary-Corwin sleep expert will call you to discuss the results. 

WORKING TOGETHER

JOY

the

of volunteering

F

or nearly 16 years, Anita Jenkins has been one of the cheerful faces welcoming patients and guests to St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center.

In January 1998, Jenkins followed the urging of her youngest daughter, an advocate of volunteerism, and joined the hospital’s volunteer ranks.

“I love people, and I wanted to do something I enjoy,” says Jenkins, who works at the information desk two days a week and assists with other tasks as needed. “Today I have the same excitement and joy as I did 16 years ago.”

She says she enjoys welcoming people to St. Mary-Corwin and feels that each person is special to the hospital, noting that she takes every measure to make everyone feel welcome.

“The volunteers who work at the information desk set the presence for all patients, visitors, and all other guests who enter the doors of St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center,” she says.

With each interaction, she’s confident she has made many guests feel better about their visit.

Jenkins also serves on the hospital’s volunteer board as a representative of the information desk. And as a former hospital supervisor, Jenkins knows the value of making visitors feel welcome and helping people find their way — whether they’re visiting a loved one, seeing their doctor, or attending a meeting or job interview.

“I find it a very re warding experience,” she adds. “You meet so many wonderful people — and they really appreciate you being there.”

Volunteers donate new wheelchairs

Anita Jenkins, a St. Mary-Corwin volunteer for 16 years, demonstrates one of the hospital’s new advanced wheelchairs.

A big thank you to St. MaryCorwin volunteers who purchased four state-of-the-art wheelchairs, known as the Prime TC. The wheelchairs, pictured here, will be used by our volunteers for patient transport within the hospital.

These wheelchairs will provide improvements in ergonomics, infection control, durability, and ease of use. Prime TC is designed to help reduce the risk of falls and infections. Each wheelchair is equipped with an IV pole, chart holder, upright oxygen tank holder, and anti-flip wheels.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Volunteering is one of the most heartfelt gifts you can give. And the generosity of our volunteers is felt throughout the hospital and our community. If you are 14 years or older and would like to become a part of the St. Mary-Corwin family of volunteers, call 719-557-4241 or email jamescarter@centura.org for more information. Volunteer opportunities include: • Admissions • Cancer Center • Clerical • Comfort Creations

• Eucharistic Ministry • Gift Shop • Information Desk • Nursing Units

•P atient Mail and Flower Delivery • Patient Transportation • Pet Therapy

• Resale Shop • Surgical Waiting Room Receptionist

stmarycorwin.org | Cheers

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WINTER EVENTS Walk With a Doc Sats, Feb 15 & Mar 15 | 9 a.m.

Lake Minnequa Even though the weather is cold and wintery, it is still important to stay active.

With the holidays over and spring around the corner, following a healthy diet and exercising can keep you healthy through the colder months. Walk With a Doc is the perfect way to stay active with physicians from Southern Colorado Family Medicine.

The walk is FREE and goes around Lake Minnequa. Meet by the Lake Avenue fire station across from St. Mary-Corwin.

Caring Connections Tue, Feb 18 | 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Dorcy Cancer Center Join oncology counselor Lorraine Hoyle on the topics of intimacy, communication, relationships, and cancer. Significant others welcome. Call 719-557-4548 to RSVP. Blood Drive Fri, Feb 21 | 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center West entrance St. Mary-Corwin is partnering with Bonfils Blood Center to host a blood drive in the mobile bus outside the West entrance. To make an appointment, call the appointment center at 1-800-365-0006. Walk-ins are also welcome! Bonfils needs 4,350 donors each week to meet the needs of our community. We thank you in advance for considering this gift.

St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center offers a variety of FREE or low-cost classes, seminars, screenings, and community events. For a complete calendar, go online to stmarycorwin.org/calendar.

A HEALTHY START for every baby

G

iving babies the best chance for a long and healthy life is the mission of The Birth Place at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center. That’s why St. Mary-Corwin joins forces with Newborn Hope and March of Dimes This spring, St. Mary-Corwin is sponsoring the annual Newborn Hope Luncheon on Feb. 7 and the March of Dimes’ March for Babies in Pueblo on April 26.

Newborn Hope, which is run almost entirely by volunteers, was founded in Colorado Springs and focuses on preventing premature births and making sure that babies born prematurely have the resources they need to survive — and thrive.

“Plus, all the funds raised at the Pueblo event stay in Pueblo or in our outlying communities,” says Paulette Mapes, manager of St. MaryCorwin’s Birth Place. “At St. Mary-Corwin, we have many times received funds for education and equipment. Just last year, we received a grant for partial funding for a cardiorespiratory monitor for the nursery.”

Meanwhile, March of Dimes is recognized nationally for its work in research and education around healthy babies — from educating the public on the polio vaccine generations ago to more recent campaigns on folic acid during pregnancy and prematurity prevention.

“Historically, there really are few people in the U.S. who have not benefited from the work done by the March of Dimes,” Mapes says.

How can you help? If you receive an invitation to the Newborn Hope Luncheon, please attend, Mapes says. You also can visit newbornhope.org and learn more about the organization and other ways to get involved.

And as the March for Babies approaches, visit marchofdimes.com and consider joining St. Mary-Corwin’s walk team or donating to support a St. Mary-Corwin walker.

 TAKE A TOUR of the

St. Mary-Corwin Birth Place from now through March and register to win a $100 gift card to Target.

Call 719-557-5544 to schedule your tour. 

PHOTOS: BABIES ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/JBRYSON HANDS ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/TREASUREPHOTO COURTESY: GIFT CARD ©TARGET CORPORATION

St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center is part of Centura Health, the region’s largest health care network.

Centura Health complies with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in the provision of any care or service on the grounds of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual preference, ancestry, age, familial status, disability or handicap. Copyright © Centura Health, 2014.

The Birth Place Highlights St. Mary-Corwin’s Birth Place is celebrating two years as a Level IIB Nursery—meaning the hospital can care for babies with special needs. At St. Mary-Corwin, we offer:  On-site maternal-fetal medicine and high-risk OB clinics to provide a higher level of care for high-risk pregnancies  Wireless fetal monitors, allowing moms to move freely during labor  On-site neonatal nurse practitioners  Certified breast-feeding consultants  Comfortable, private postpartum rooms with private showers  A complimentary take-home meal for parents’ first night home with their baby