Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital second in nation, first in South Carolina to earn advanced certification in perinatal care
Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital is helping pave the way statewide and nationally to raise the level of coordinated, patient-centered care for mothers and newborns.
Tidelands Waccamaw is just the second hospital in the United States and the first in South Carolina to earn advanced certification in perinatal care from The Joint Commission.
To earn advanced certification, Tidelands Waccamaw provides integrated care in every stage of pregnancy from prenatal care through delivery. The hospital also addresses patients’ social needs, identifying health care disparities and focusing on high-risk areas for mothers such as mental health disorders and substance abuse.
Tidelands Waccamaw earned the advanced certification after a rigorous review and two-day visit by The Joint Commission.
“The advanced certification in perinatal care from The Joint Commission is a testament to the expert care and coordinated approach we take with every patient,” said Jonella Davis, vice president of operations at Tidelands Health. “Our skilled professionals offer high-quality, compassionate care through every stage of pregnancy and delivery.”
The Joint Commission offers the advanced certification in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to help organizations address the growing need for appropriate obstetrical care amid ongoing increases in the national maternal mortality rate.
In 2021, 1,205 women died of maternal causes in the United States, according to the most recent data from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month. That compares with 861 deaths in 2020 and 754 in 2019.
Tidelands Health also sponsors educational and outreach programs, including childbirth classes, a prenatal education series, a monthly breastfeeding support group, lactation education sessions and more, to help mothers maintain good health for themselves and their newborns.
“We partner with our patients through every aspect and stage of their pregnancy and delivery to not only provide care but also provide education for mothers,” Davis said.
The advanced certification is the latest accolade for Tidelands Waccamaw, which continues to be a leader in perinatal care. A decade ago, Tidelands Waccamaw was the first hospital in the state to earn the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation recognizing hospitals and birthing centers that offer optimal care for mothers and their babies. The hospital maintains its Baby-Friendly designation, which is globally administered by the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
Last year, Tidelands Waccamaw expanded its labor and delivery unit with the addition of more delivery rooms and a dedicated surgical suite for cesarean sections.
“Tidelands Health is a leader in the provision of safe, quality and family-centered perinatal care,” said Shelly Laird, the health system’s director of women and children’s services. “From the design of our birthing unit to our cross-departmental team approach, we are always thinking about what would best meet the unique needs of our patients and developing customized care plans based on national standards and evidence-based practices.”
Earning the advanced certification in perinatal care is the latest example of Tidelands Health’s commitment to meeting the health care needs of patients in the fast-growing region by providing advanced care close to home.
In recent years, Tidelands Health, the region’s largest health care provider, has recruited dozens of specialists in a broad range of medical specialties, secured leading technology and built state-of-the-art treatment facilities.
