AHOSKIE – “New Beginnings” OB, Labor & Delivery Department at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital is beginning new safety measures by locking the doors to the unit.  Effective January 1, 2011, the OB/Labor & delivery unit at RCH will be locked.

“To assure the safety and confidentiality of our newborn patients and their families, we are increasing security in the department by locking the unit,” explains Lisa Rushing, RN, Nurse Manager.  “Most hospitals in our country today lock the doors to their mother/baby units as a safety precaution and for the privacy of their patients.”

“New Beginnings” has always had safety procedures in place,” states Cheryl Whitaker, RN, nurse manager.  “The safety of our infants is something we take very seriously,”

Visitors and family members will continue to check in at the front desk of the hospital for directions or an escort.  At the “New Beginnings” OB Department, they will be asked to stop briefly at a camera security system to announce their arrival to see a patient.

“We welcome visitors and encourage families to visit our patients,” explains Rushing.  “Labor and delivery departments are high-risk areas, and locking our unit is just an additional step to assure privacy and security.”

Families are made welcome with snack bags, and new moms and babies go home with gift packages and a complimentary ribbon for the door.  A “VIP” meal is served to new parents and all of the rooms in the unit are private.

For more information about the new safety precautions, or about “New Beginnings” OB, Labor & Delivery Department, call the Office of Community Relations at 209-3151.