Putting pregnant moms’ minds at rest
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of the “PRH: Making A Difference” series of articles appearing daily in the Penticton Herald until Nov. 3, highlighting Penticton Regional Hospital as it moves towards the opening of its new patient care tower in the spring of 2019.
Being an expectant or new mother is an incredible experience filled with a number of emotions. Joy and excitement are among them, but so are worry and stress. When patients visit the Primary Care Maternity Clinic at Penticton Regional Hospital they can often feel the latter — with a million different thoughts running through their minds.
For Dr. Catherine Botting, a general practitioner who joined the clinic in 2016, it’s the opportunity to put her patients’ minds at ease and smiles on their faces that inspires her work every day.
“It’s incredibly gratifying to be able to be part of such a special moment in someone’s life; to support them and make them feel good about something,” said Dr. Botting.
Located in a small corner of the hospital’s second floor, family physicians, obstetricians and administrative support staff work together to provide care for women from 10 weeks of pregnancy through to six weeks post-delivery.
Maureen Spinks, nurse manager of the Maternal Child program, has managed the clinic since its opening in 2004.
“The goal of the clinic was, and continues to be, to promote a healthy mother giving birth to a healthy baby,” Spinks said.
Each day, the clinic sees 17 to 20 pregnant or postpartum women and/or babies. Patients are greeted by a photo collage of some of the clinic’s youngest patients and exam room walls that don brightly coloured butterflies and zoo animals.
“The clinic is such a fun place to work. Everyone is very positive and works well together to provide the best support for our patients,” said Dr. Botting.
Space, however, has been a challenge, said Spinks. This has limited the clinic’s ability to offer additional services to patients.
Thankfully, more space is on the way at PRH. In 2019, patients of the clinic will walk the halls of a new Maternal-Child area on the main floor of the David E. Kampe Tower. The area will feature more spacious examination rooms, new consultation rooms, and a children’s play area.
“The addition of consultation rooms in the tower will provide a private space for clients to meet with a variety of health care professionals including public health nurses, social workers, dietitians and physician specialists,” said Spinks.
Additionally, clinic staff hope to work hand-in-hand with midwives in the new tower, who will now have the space to offer group prenatal classes.
“Whether it’s working in a team with doctors in the clinic or providing group prenatal care, midwives and the families we care for benefit from working closely with the wider healthcare team,” said Christy Raynolds, a registered midwife from Willow Community Midwives.
The six-storey David E. Kampe Tower will increase capacity and functionality of ambulatory care services, include five new operating rooms, 84 new single patient rooms, a rooftop helipad and space for an expanded UBC Faculty of Medicine program at PRH. The project will also accommodate renovations to significantly expand the emergency department and update the pharmacy, supplies and equipment stores.
PRH is currently undergoing a $312-million expansion and the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation is raising $20 million to provide the medical equipment required. To donate, contact the SOS Medical Foundation at 250-492-9027 or visit our website .