LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Norton Healthcare revealed their $5.2 million investment into a new facility focusing on women's health services is almost complete.
It will be located in the Children's Foundation Building on the fifth floor, just across from Norton Children's Hospital.
The hospital system has invested into the entire floor that will house two ultrasound rooms, two lab draw stations, 12 restrooms, and 14 exam rooms. Mary Schubert, the assistant vice president for women's services at Norton Healthcare, said their vision was to help make sure expecting mothers and their families feel comfortable.
"A lot of women were involved in the design of the space," Schubert said. "We had our MA's and our team look at the space and helped us decided where everything went."
Services that will be provided include gynecology, doulas, high-risk care and, eventually, midwives.
"So we really built this space to say, 'How do we meet people where they are?'" Schubert said. "We are a chapter in their book of life, right? How do we make it be a chapter that isn't scary or hard?"
Schubert said this facility is family-based and they want to ensure that relatives like grandparents or other children feel comfortable when their loved one checks in.
Alexis Crawford, who's been a professional doula for four years, said she's glad to be a part of this new facility and that it's about making sure patients are comfortable.
"We're going to take care of you and take care of your family," Crawford said. "You should feel comfortable bringing your significant other, your mom, or your other children here."
Schubert said the treatment continues even after a woman makes her visit in one of their exam rooms. They plan to use the latest technology to provide telehealth.
"When someone goes home post-delivery, in the past they had to come back or either stay in the hospital an extra day, or they had to come back," Schubert said. "With the virtual hospital we can do telemedicine visits with them once they get home."
Crawford said being a part of a patient's care, before, during and after a birth in vital. She said being a doula is a connection that lasts even outside of care, and that she's ready to continue to provide this service to her future patients in the new facility.
"It's really a safe space," Crawford said. "We feel like, you see them in the streets, I see them at Kroger, I see them at the red light and it's like 'Hey do you remember me? She was there with me, that's my doula.' It makes them feel important. It's like a VIP service."
The finishing touches are still underway as the facility is scheduled to open its door to patients by March 7.
Schubert said this facility was strategically placed right next to their level four maternity hospital and NICU as well. Services will also include ultrasound services, a clothing pantry, breastfeeding support and even free valet parking.
Norton Healthcare said this doubles down on their commitment on investing within the downtown area. They hope this facility will be more comfortable to women and also hope to expand the program to their future OB/GYN office in the West Louisville Hospital set to open in November of this year.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.