Children Born at the Hospital over the Last Decade Reunited with Caregivers to Commemorate Opening of Pennsylvania’s First New Hospital Obstetrics Program in More Than 30 Years

When Allegheny Health Network (AHN) launched its labor & deliver program at Jefferson Hospital in 2014, it marked a major milestone for women and infants in the region as the state’s first newly established obstetrics program in more than three decades. On November 21, 2024, AHN Jefferson Hospital celebrated the 10th anniversary of that milestone in grand style with a birthday party for families and their children who were born at the hospital over the past decade.

Birthday boys and girls came together to blow out their honorary birthday candles and reunite with many of the caregivers who helped bring them into the world. All children in attendance received AHN branded gifts and books as well as one month of free swim lessons from Goldfish Swim School.

“Today’s milestone birthday not only pays tribute to these amazing children and their families, but also to the exceptionally dedicated, compassionate and skilled providers who care for our obstetric patients and their babies,” said Joy Peters, chief nursing officer at AHN Jefferson Hospital. “It’s truly wonderful to have this caliber of obstetrics, and labor and delivery care available right here in the community and we’re beyond thrilled to celebrate the team’s many accomplishments as well as all the lives they’ve touched over the last decade.”

AHN Jefferson L&D officially opened in November 2014. Prior to its opening, Pennsylvania had not seen a new hospital obstetrics program open anywhere in the Commonwealth in more than 30 years, and in fact, like most other parts of the country, the state was experiencing a steady annual stream of OB program closures.

“Nationally, communities around the country have experienced an alarming trend of reduced access to essential prenatal and postnatal care which in turn drives worsening maternal and infant health outcomes," said Marcia Klein-Patel, MD, PhD, Chair of AHN Women's Institute. “The closure and downsizing of obstetrics programs are major contributors to the declining health of birthing people and their babies, and unfortunately the U.S. leads the westernized world in maternal mortality rates.”

The national maternal mortality rate is 23 deaths per 100,000 live births, and in Pennsylvania that number only slightly dips to 17, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Causation for these staggering statistics is multi-factorial but widening maternity care deserts across the United States play a significant role, especially in rural areas.

Recent reports show that nearly 25% of America’s rural hospitals have ceased to provide OB services since 2011, and from 2011 to 2021, 267 rural U.S. hospitals ceased providing OB services all together, fueled in part by the financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pennsylvania is known to be one of the hardest hit states.

“Rural communities have been impacted the most by the prevalence of maternity care deserts, and obstetric patients are often forced to travel further for obstetric care, increasing the risk profiles for both mom and baby,” Dr. Klein-Patel continued. “At AHN, we’re profoundly aware of how maternity care deserts correlate with general health outcomes, and I could not be prouder of how strongly committed we have been to investing in women’s health and opening doors to beautiful, state-of-the-art labor and delivery facilities across western Pennsylvania, rather than closing them.”

The AHN Jefferson L&D unit is located on the third floor of the hospital and consists of 8 L&D rooms, 21 postpartum suites, a private triage area, Level II neonatal intensive care (NICU) suite and nursery.

Jefferson Women’s Health and Allegheny Health Midwives – the only certified nurse midwives practice in the South Hills – deliver at the hospital and David Logan, MD, serves as the program’s medical director.

“On behalf of the entire obstetrics team here at Jefferson hospital, we would like to thank all of the families who have entrusted us with their obstetric health needs over the past 10 years, ,” said Dr. Logan. “I also want to thank the remarkable nurses, APPs, physicians and other caregivers who lead our program – without their dedication and tireless work, this incredible, critical service to the community would not be possible.”

Since its opening, AHN Jefferson’s L&D program has welcomed more than 8,500 babies into the world. For more information on AHN Jefferson hospital or to make an appointment with AHN Women’s Institute, visit ahn.org.