Health Quest 5
e three leading complications women face during childbirth are dangerously high blood
pressure, postpartum bleeding and venous thromboembolism, a condition that occurs when
a blood clot travels from a woman's veins to the heart or lungs during or after birth. By
teaming up with ACOG's Safe Motherhood Initiative, NDH and VBMC are implementing a
variety of internal strategies and procedures for handling those emergencies.
"We work very closely with our ob-gyns, and we have a committee that consists of a
social worker, nurses and neonatology staff to help prepare for any new mother with high-
risk issues," says Pamela Rhodes, R.N., chief nursing officer and vice president of Patient
Services at NDH. "We're in constant communication to prepare for those patients when
they come in."
AN EMPHASIS ON PREPARATION
anks to the advent of electronic medical records and the close collaboration between
Health Quest Medical Practice ob-gyns and Health Quest hospitals, nurses at NDH and
VBMC remain apprised of any risk factors that arise throughout a woman's pregnancy. When
women arrive at the hospital for birth, staff members are then better prepared to monitor
and manage high blood pressure, bleeding and other potential medical emergencies, helping
moms safely deliver healthy babies.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MATERNITY CARE OFFERED AT NDH AND VBMC, VISIT
HEALTH-QUEST.ORG.
PARTNERS IN
WOMEN'S HEALTH
Educating pregnant women about the symptoms
of potential complications after having a baby
is a key goal of the Safe Motherhood Initiative,
particularly with regard to preeclampsia.
Symptoms of preeclampsia include headache,
blurry vision and indigestion-like pain, and they
can appear up to six weeks following birth.
"Being a new mom, it's easy to attribute
headaches and other symptoms to dehydration
and lack of sleep," says Kathleen McGinnis, R.N.,
perinatal safety nurse at Vassar Brothers Medical
Center. "We focus on teaching women and
their families the signs to watch for before they
leave the hospital so they can quickly see their
physicians or midwives."
Dedicated to
Through participation in the New York district of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists'
(ACOG's) Safe Motherhood Initiative, Northern Dutchess Hospital and Vassar Brothers Medical Center are taking
extra measures to protect new moms.
SAFER SAFER SAFER SAFER SAFER SAFER
BIRTHS
