A Milestone in Our Nationally Recognized Maternity Services
Salinas Valley Health brought nearly 1,600 new babies into the world in 2022 and another 1,450 in 2023. Each birthing experience is different, and each is a special occasion. In September 2022, our medical center celebrated the opening of its second labor and delivery operating room, a significant milestone in our highly acclaimed maternity care. The new operating room is dedicated to the memory of Norman Nelson, MD, who delivered thousands of babies during his 35-year career at the medical center and dreamed of establishing a second operating room for births. The expansion has also elevated our medical center’s ability to respond to patients’ needs in a timely way and allows our team to conduct regular drills and simulations, continually renewing the skills of its highly qualified labor and delivery team.
Taking Extra Steps to Protect At-Risk Babies During RSV Season
In late summer 2023, ABRYSVO™ – an RSV vaccine – was approved for pregnant patients in weeks 32 to 36 of pregnancy. More than 180 doses of ABRYSVO were administered at Salinas Valey Health PrimeCare and other Salinas Valley Health obstetric clinics. A new monoclonal antibody preparation with activity against RSV, Beyfortus®, was also FDA approved in summer 2023 for newborns and some pediatric patients. Although the supply was limited in late 2023, Salinas Valley Health was able to purchase enough doses to administer Beyfortus to all Neonatal Intensive Care Unit discharges (high-risk patients). In late January 2024, it became available for all newborns.
Simple Solutions That Make a Big Difference
Perinatal nurses at Salinas Valley Health have had measurable success in creating perinatal units with a more peaceful environment. In addition to dimming lights, closing doors and clustering care when clinically possible, a designated nurse serves as a Quiet at Night champion, reminding visitors and staff to keep their voices down. The initiative includes responding swiftly to alarms and patient call bells and addressing disturbances such as squeaky cart wheels. Nurses alert patients in advance about what noises they can expect and offer fans, music and aromatherapy to support a quiet and calm setting while ensuring parents can still hear their newborns. With patient satisfaction surveys demonstrating notable improvement in this area, the Quiet at Night protocol has been adopted throughout our medical center. It provides simple solutions that make a big difference.
Minimally Invasive Intervention Helps NICU Babies Breathe Easier
A new minimally invasive intervention to help some of our smallest patients is helping everyone involved in this life-saving treatment breathe easier. The partnership of our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, which offers the skilled expertise of Children’s (Stanford) neonatologists along with access to state-of-the-art facilities and technology, means more families can receive quality healthcare for their babies while staying close to home.
In summer 2023, Salinas Valley Health’s NICU began utilizing two surfactant replacement therapy treatments for infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Clinical educators led a series of workshops to familiarize medical staff with the implementation of these procedures. Our care professionals say it has been a tremendous relief to be able to provide this lifesaving treatment with significantly less distress for these medically fragile patients.
From streamlining the labor and delivery process when surgical intervention is required to enhancing the environment for new moms and babies to implementing extra measures to safeguard infants in need of special care, Salinas Valley Health is where parenthood meets personalized care and where each birth receives individualized attention. Nationally recognized for excellence, our team is passionate about supporting parents and newborns in every interaction.
