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Ob-gyn Group Leaving East Jefferson General, TV Station Says

Photo of the Day: a baby's yawn

Newborn Jayden Rose Melancon is swaddled by her father Charles Melancon as her mother Morgan watches at Ochsner Baptist Uptown on December 1, 2013. Mothers and babies were transported Sunday morning from Ochsner Medical Center on Jefferson Highway to its newly renovated location. (Photo by Kathleen Flynn, Nola.Com / The Times-Picayune)

A team of doctors is moving its obstetrics and gynecology practice from East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie to Ochsner Medical Center, according to WWL television. The move could mean as many as 800 more baby deliveries at Ochsner-Baptist in New Orleans.

The doctors are Leah Gonski, Robin Bone, Archana Paine, Kathleen Sullivan, Katherine Swing and Sacha Wax, WWL said. The move is set for April.

Baptist East Offers First High-risk Pregnancy Clinic In River Region

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Baptist Medical Center East gave the public a first-look at its new Telematernal Fetal Medicine Clinic during an open house on Tuesday. The clinic is the first MFM clinic in the River Region and the first clinic of its kind to be completely operated with telemedicine technology in the state.

Baptist East Chief Executive Officer Jeff Rains said, currently, women with high-risk pregnancies have to go to cities like Birmingham, Mobile or Atlanta for the treatment they need.

"So, currently, anyone who is high-risk OB has to travel and hour and a half or two hours to those locations to get that service," Rains said. "Secondly, it's very difficult to find the MFM specialists to recruit to stand up individual service lines like this. Having the ability to use telemedicine to bring the physician here to the community versus the patient having to leave to travel is exactly was the benefit of telemedicine is. We're really glad to have that here in the River Region."

The clinic gives patients access to Dr. Anne C. Patterson. Patterson is an Atlanta-based an MFM expert who co-founded Women's Telehealth, the company Baptist East partnered with the make the clinic possible. Dr. Patterson has treated patients using the telecommunication method more than 10,000 times.

"We work closely with each patient's ObGyn to develop and carry out a plan of care," Dr. Patterson said. "We're there every step of the way throughout pregnancy to take care of mom and make sure she and baby are doing well as we work to deliver the most priceless gift- their baby."

Nearly 3600 babies are delivered at Baptist East every year. Rain said nearly 30 percent of pregnancies in Alabama are high-risk pregnancies.

"This is really a great opportunity to drive care locally and to be able to expand that service that we previously didn't have before," Rains said.

The clinic has already treated about 60 patients. It's located at 400 Taylor Road, Suite 3380. Patients must be referred by their physician. To make an appointment, call 334-747-9558.

Copyright 2018 WSFA 12 News. All rights reserved.

First Baby Born At Baptist East Gives Birth To Her Child At Same Hospital

Macy Cate White and her husband Austin are settling in to there new role as parents.

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Bringing a new baby into the world can be one of the most memorable moments in a families life. For one Montgomery family the moment was even more special because of where the baby was delivered.

Macy Cate White and her husband Austin are settling into their new role as parents.

"It is still pretty surreal. We still can't believe it. She is a blessing," said Macy Cate White.

Baby Anna Craig was born Jan. 15 at Baptist Medical Center East. It is the same hospital her mother was delivered at 27 years ago.

"I was the first baby born here. Now she is the first baby of the first baby," said White.

White's mother, Melinda Rodgers, still has the newspaper clipping from 1991 when the hospital was Humana Medical Center East. She still remembers the hospital rolling out the red carpet for them.

"They treated us like royalty. They brought us a steak dinner with all the linens. It was just like being at a really expensive restaurant. It was really special," said Rodgers.

"At the time having a new Obstetrics Unit open in Montgomery was a big big event," said Dr. Dent Williams.

Williams delivered Macy Cate and said the hospital has changed in some major ways since she was born.

"From a beginning point of three labor rooms we now have about 18 and a brand new expanded postpartum unit. There has been tremendous growth," said Williams.

This unit at Baptist East has undergone 20 renovation expansions since 1991 and occupies most of the 2nd floor of the hospital. Paula Brennan, the director of Women and Children's Services at Baptist East, said the focus remains providing quality care.

"You know, when you see our babies come back and have their babies to trust our facility, it brings it home that we are doing all the right things," said Brennan.

The Whites, who are now a family of 3, say they couldn't imagine bringing their bundle of joy in to the world anywhere else.

"It has been neat to be the patients and get the same great care my parents got so many years ago," said White.

Right now Baptist Medical Center East has over 300 deliveries a month. That's around 4,000 per year. Baptist East ranks 4th and 5th in the state for deliveries per month and per year and is actually the smallest hospital to do so.

Copyright 2019 WSFA 12 News. All rights reserved.

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