Healthier Babies, Families Are Result in Northeast Missouri

Heather Jones, mother of two, was diplomatic when she described Scotland County Memorial Hospital’s previous birthing facilities as “very used.” The differences between the previous facilities, where she had her first child, and the new $2.5 million women’s center, funded in part by a $1.3 million grant from MFH, were striking.

“The rooms are bigger, more private, and I had my own bathroom,” said Jones, who had her second child, Abby, in the new center. “And I didn’t have to share my room.”

The hospital, located in Memphis in northeast Missouri, was faced with not only having worn-out equipment, but also with being the only birthing facility in a six-county region. Almost a dozen other hospitals in northeast Missouri had closed their birthing facilities in previous years, which also created the challenge of keeping practicing OB-GYNs in the area and increasing the number of home deliveries without any certified medical assistance.

Scotland County Memorial turned to MFH for help, and received a grant that resulted in the comprehensive new women’s center with state-of-the-art equipment. New bassinets and radiant warmers replaced their “very used” predecessors. The rooms were made more comfortable and private. The center was able to create two fully equipped labor/delivery/recovery/post-partum rooms.

The funding also led to “Childbirth and Beyond”, an outreach education program designed to help mothers and babies before and after childbirth.

“The MFH grant has also helped us reach many mothers through prenatal visits,” said assistant supervisor Betsy Hines. “We’re able to go into their homes and monitor the health of both the baby and the mother,” which decreases delivery complications and infant mortality rates.

Following the birth, program staff visit with families to address such issues as breastfeeding and how to properly buckle an infant into a car seat. “Parents don’t always take their baby to the doctor unless it’s sick,” Hines added. “Through Childbirth and Beyond, we can monitor the babies’ weight and development and conduct social risk assessments.”

Hospital CEO Marcia Dial noted that the MFH grant has had a far-reaching effect in the community as well. The hospital has been able to add 30 additional employees, including doctors, nurses, billing clerks and receptionists – a financial boon to the community because of the increased employment opportunities at the new facility.

“The grant also enables us to reach out and educate the lay midwives of the region’s large Mennonite population,” she said. “And having the latest technology and equipment makes it much easier to recruit and retain physicians to our area.”

“This has been one fabulous project, and we’re thankful that MFH recognized our needs.”

Scotland County Memorial Hospital
Rt. 1 Box 53
Memphis, MO 63555
660.465.8511
www.scotlandcountyhospital.com