Geisinger’s Childbirth Center in Scranton celebrates one-year anniversary
The Childbirth Center returned a service GCMC had not offered since 2007: maternity care for expectant mothers and babies. The $15 million center features eight spacious delivery and postpartum suites on the city hospital’s third floor.
“Since March, as the nation entered the COVID-19 phase, the Childbirth Center helped mothers in the community welcome their bundles of joy safely despite the pandemic,” said Lauren Gleason, operations manager, GCMC Childbirth Center. “Mothers were allowed one visitor, so fathers were still able to be part of this very important moment. Safety and cleanliness were, as always, top priorities. The entire unit took extra precautions, and all guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health were strictly adhered to.”
At the Childbirth Center, obstetrician/gynecologists and certified nurse midwives work together to comfort and care for mothers-to-be and their babies, and expectant moms can tailor their birth plans according to their preferences. Midwives facilitate natural birth plans, and OB/GYNs are on duty at all hours to intervene when needed. The hospital’s midwifery program is the first in Scranton offered by a hospital system.
“Geisinger’s certified midwifery program is built around the trusted bond women share with their healthcare provider. Our certified nurse-midwives provide collaborative, compassionate care attuned to a mother's individual needs. Known for their ‘low-tech, high-touch’ approach, midwives provide extra care and support during low-risk pregnancies and births with as few interventions as possible,” said Karen Carbaugh, certified registered nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre.
The birthing suites are designed to allow expectant mothers to move around freely and feel as comfortable and “at home” as possible. The large rooms are intended for labor, delivery and recovery, so mothers can remain in one place throughout their stay. The facility is fully equipped to provide patient-centered care as well as the latest medical technology, equipment and staff expertise.
“As we celebrate our first anniversary, I first want to thank the communities we serve here in Scranton for entrusting Geisinger in bringing world-class healthcare and compassionate service closer to home. The staff in the unit has done an excellent job delivering care to our patients, and I am so honored to be part of this team. We look forward to our continued growth in the region,” said Manuel Arreguin, M.D., chair of Obstetrics/Gynecology in Geisinger’s northeast region. “Our highly educated and trained certified nurse midwives are qualified to administer a wide spectrum of women’s health services with a personal touch and minimal technology and interference during low-risk, low-intervention pregnancies.”
For more information and to make appointment, please visit geisinger.org/pregnancycare or call 866-460-6966.
About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
