MDNews - Central New York

+ Around-the-clock availability of epidural anesthesia services + Experienced, compassionate nurses, many of whom are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Suppor t, Neonata l Resuscitation, Inpatient Obstetric Nursing or Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM) + Outpatient breastfeeding support + Staff-led childbirth education classes and birthing center tours The birthing center is pleased to offer EFM, which records fetal heartbeat and uterine contractions throughout labor without a provider having to be present. " EFM is a newer innovation, a nd t he advantage of it is that OB/GYNs, midwives or nurses can review the monitor data strips remot ely a nd i mprove com mu n icat ion between patients, nurses and providers. It also provides educational opportunities for all staff," Dr. Calzolaio says. "If there's any concern, I can review the information on my phone or the computer in my office and, if necessary, attend to the patient before the nurse notifies me of a problem." An all-female midwifery program gives expectant mothers the option of seeing a midwife for certain aspects of prenatal care and receive one-on-one support during labor and delivery. "Our OB/GYNs and midwives practice a s pa r t of one g roup, a nd we coordinate closely with them throughout each patient's pregnancy," Dr. Calzolaio says. "Patients see both OB/GYNs and midwives throughout pregnancy, and there's a midwife on call with an OB/GYN every night. Patients' perceptions of their delivery experience are extremely posi- tive when they receive care from a midwife." CARE DOESN'T END WITH PATIENTS' DISCHARGE. "We place follow-up phone calls after moms and babies go home to ensure they're doing well and point them to community resources if they need anything," says Susan Bobb, RN, Director of Women's Services at Auburn Community Hospital. "Women love the individual atten- tion they get here that isn't always possible at bigger facilities." ACADEMIC-LEVEL BREAST CARE IN A COMMUNITY SETTING Last summer, Auburn Community Hospital took the f irst step towa rd establishing a comprehensive breast program when Ranjna Sharma, MD, FACS, Chief of the Section of Breast Surgery, Medical Director of the Breast Cancer Program and Associate Professor of Surgery in the Department of Surgery at SUNY Upstate Medical University, began holding a clinic and performing procedures at the hospital. Dr. Sharma joined SUNY Upstate Medica l University in Ma rch 2019 a f ter nearly a decade at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. She visits Auburn Community Hospita l ever y Monday a nd alternates between seeing patients in clinic and performing surgeries. " SU N Y Ups t at e Med ica l Cent er a nd Auburn Community Hospital thought it was important to make comprehensive breast services available to more people in the greater Central New York community," she says. "We started with surgical services in 2019, and we began bringing medical oncology services to Auburn Community Hospital earlier this year. Hopefully, we'll be able to add radiation oncolog y in the next two to three years to complete the program." D r. S h a r m a s e e s p a t ient s w it h a n d performs surgeries to remove benign and malignant breast masses. She holds clinic at the Surgica l Specia lties Clinic located at 77 Nelson St. in Auburn. "It's exciting to bring our expertise and multidisciplinary care model to Auburn," Dr. Sharma says. "Local breast care was some- thing that the medical community and area residents wanted and needed. It's important for women to have access to high-qua lity breast services. We're happy to bring them to this community and look forward to expanding the program in the years to come." For more information, call 315-255-7011 or visit auburnhospital.org. n Community Collaboration IN PA RTNER SHIP W ITH the Cayuga County Health Department, Auburn Community Hospital recently established the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Program, which educates mothers about and helps them access a wide range of community- based services that can benefit them and their babies. "Through the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Program, moms can access doula services, assistance with trans- portation, breastfeeding support from certified lactation counselors and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children," says Susan Bobb, RN, Director of Women's Services at Auburn Community Hospital. "First-time moms can sign up to receive an in-home visit from a nurse, and if children have special healthcare needs, the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Program can help them enroll them in early intervention programs." 1 4

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