Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center has recently received a national designation.
The hospital has been named a Baby-Friendly facility. Baby-Friendly USA, a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that meet its level of care for breastfeeding mothers. Kelly Fletcher, clinical manager for labor and delivery tells us what that means.
“We offer the education, the information that they need in order to do so, and then at the same time help them to build their confidence in any skills that they may need once they are home,” according to Fletcher.
Dena Ollis, Director of Women and Children’s Services. Says it’s a major accomplishment.
“This is a big deal for us and there’s no questions about it,” Ollis said. “You know what I would like for the community to know about our baby-friendly designation is that we have really strived to put processes in place to meet the needs of our patients and to really be able to enhance the carte that we provide. This an amazing milestone for a hospital.”
There are currently more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers worldwide, with 540 located in the United States. Piedmont Athens Regional is the first in the area. The hospital is an underwriter with WUGA.
