PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — On Thursday, HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital celebrated the opening of a new floor dedicated to women's services, providing needed maternity care as the Treasure Coast continues to experience population growth.
The hospital held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its expanded Women's Care floor, which includes a Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), new labor and delivery suites, two obstetric operating rooms and an obstetric emergency room.
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The newly expanded unit is a response to explosive growth on the Treasure Coast, and fills a gap left by the closure of the maternity unit at Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital.
"The community is definitely growing and there was a big need for this. New labor and delivery, new NICU," said Dr. Pete Papapanos, an OBGYN at the hospital.
The expansion comes as the hospital has seen dramatic growth in deliveries over recent years.
"We're very very excited about it. We started with approximately 40 deliveries a month a few years ago and now we're up to 140 deliveries a month," Papapanos said.
The need has become even more critical amid a nationwide shortage of OBGYNs.
"It's really devastating to think about how mothers have to travel 30, 60, 90 minutes just for a prenatal visit, not even for birth," Papapanos said.
Port St Lucie
Hospital responds to sharp rise in labor and delivery demand
That challenge is exactly what Martin County residents face daily after their county's only maternity unit shut down last April due to staff shortages and limited funding.
"There's nothing here. There's nothing in Martin County," said Katie Douglas, a nurse and midwife.
Douglas has been following the situation closely and said expectant mothers in Martin County have no choice but to deliver in neighboring counties.
"Unlike Martin, St. Lucie has stepped up to meet the needs of these moms. They have opened up a new NICU. Both Lawnwood and St. Lucie have made accommodations for very busy scenarios," Douglas said.
Douglas said many families remain unaware of the extent of the issue. She adds when expectant mothers learn they must deliver outside Martin County, it creates additional stress.
"Well, it's stressful. They have to make different arrangements for family for care for transportation," Douglas said.
Douglas hopes someone will step up to provide maternity care in Martin County, similar to what St. Lucie County has accomplished.
The expansion in St. Lucie County means families there now have multiple quality options for maternity care, while Martin County residents continue waiting for solutions.
“The mothers in the area, the families in the area are much better off after tonight because they have options," said Dr. Papapanos. "Not just options, better options."
