Prisma Health’s Patewood Hospital earns Baby-Friendly designation

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Prisma Health is pleased to share that its Patewood Hospital has earned the official Baby-Friendly Hospital designation after implementing the 10 steps of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund.

“We are excited and proud of our team for achieving this so quickly, especially since we went through the process in the midst of a pandemic,” said Annie Trout, chief nursing officer for Prisma Health Patewood Hospital. “This has been a vision for women’s services since we opened our maternity unit here, and we are thrilled to have this official designation to match the quality of care that our patients know and love.”

The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer optimal care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Based on the “10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding,” this designation acknowledges facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, skills and confidence needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.

With Patewood Hospital’s completion of the initiative, all Prisma Health birthing centers now have the Baby-Friendly Hospital designation, including:

• Prisma Health Baptist Hospital
• Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital
• Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital
• Prisma Health Greer Memorial Hospital
• Prisma Health Laurens County Hospital
• Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital
• Prisma Health Richland Hospital
• Prisma Health Toumey Hospital

“Being recognized as a Baby-Friendly Hospital informs our community that we encourage breastfeeding and the enormous benefits it can provide to both mothers and babies,” Trout said. “Also, with the recent opening of our Breastfeeding and Newborn Care Center here at Patewood Hospital, we can provide a continuum of care that supports breastfeeding after mothers and babies are discharged.”

Patewood Hospital is a 72-bed hospital with 10 labor and delivery beds, 30 postpartum beds and four level II NICU beds. The hospital employs 167 nurses, seven lactation consultants, five pediatricians, 17 obstetricians and five advanced practice RNs. In 2020, the Patewood Hospital team delivered 2,499 babies. Systemwide, Prisma Health delivered 13,450 babies in fiscal year 2020.

About Prisma Health

Prisma Health is a not-for-profit health company and the largest healthcare system in South Carolina. With nearly 30,000 team members, 18 hospitals, 2,947 beds and more than 300 physician practice sites, Prisma Health serves more than 1.2 million unique patients annually. Its goal is to improve the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience and access to affordable care, as well as conducting clinical research and training the next generation of medical professionals. For more information, visit PrismaHealth.org.