Maternity Services began moving new moms and their babies from the old tower to the new second-floor maternity space this week. It's part of a 124,000-square-foot expansion to help meet the growing demand throughout the region, increase capacity and provide comprehensive maternity services all on one floor.
"It's all about the patient and making sure they are comfortable and concentrating all services on one floor," said Dr. Karen Swenson, OB/GYN, Women Partner's in Health. "It is such great opportunity for me and my partners to take better care of our high-risk and low-risk maternity patients using the latest equipment, ORs and security - all in a beautiful environment."
The expansion includes 30 new postpartum rooms, Stabilization, Continuing Care and Well Baby nurseries and four new operating rooms for C-sections (one set aside for future use).
"The new space gives maternity services a huge advantage because they are able to work more efficiently with the increased work space and spacious rooms - giving physicians and nurses the ability to examine moms and babies right in the room," said Sharon Perry, director of maternity services for SMCA. "This is a celebration of birth and the families want to participate, so we have created an inviting atmosphere that provides that opportunity."
Also included in the expansion are 32 additional licensed beds, two floors set aside for future use with room for 60 additional beds and a covered footbridge connecting SMCA to Medical Park Tower, the adjacent physician office building. Also, the project calls for renovation of 43,000 square feet of existing space.
The $40 million expansion and renovation was made possible thanks to The Seton Fund Board of Trustees who helped raise $12 million through private philanthropy, The Seton Development Board who contributed $3 million to the project and the SMCA Volunteers who donated a generous $2 million.
Seton is proud to have four hospitals – the only hospitals in Central Texas - that have earned the