Another department at King’s Daughters Medical Center has beenrebuilt from the ground up as part of the facility’s massiveconstruction and renovation plan, and officials there expect thelatest improvements to make KDMC the prime health care destinationfor Southwest Mississippi’s expectant mothers.

KDMC Director of Nursing Merlene Myrick said the hospital’slabor and delivery department is scheduled to reopen inapproximately two weeks with nine labor, delivery, recovery andpostpartum care rooms and one surgical room. All have been upgradedand equipped with the latest medical equipment, and designed forpatient comfort.

“We really went all out to get all the things we needed to takecare of our moms and babies,” Myrick said.

Myrick said the new LDRP rooms would be equipped withstate-of-the-art fetal monitors produced by Phillips Electronicsthat will allow nurses and physicians to record medical informationat patients’ bedsides. The same monitors will also allow physiciansto access the information from remote terminals in their homes oroffices for instant communication of patients’ needs.

Some of the new monitors will be wireless, she said, allowingexpectant mothers to remain mobile – not confined to a bed – untillabor begins.

The new rooms will also be equipped with portable birthingwarmers to keep newborns warm, and will feature the same modern,space saving in-wall medical gas connections and bed monitors thatwere installed in KDMC’s new Intensive Care Unit and EmergencyDepartment.

Additionally, Myrick said the department’s staff has refreshedits skills by taking a new round fetal monitoring interpretationclasses as part of continuing education requirements.

“That ensures we not only have the nicest equipment, but we’revery competent in the use of our equipment,” she said.

But it’s not just new technology that makes KDMC’s LDRP rooms socapable.

KDMC Chief Executive Officer Alvin Hoover said the rooms havebeen designed and built with an eye for comfort. During theproject, his CEO duties have expanded to include that of interiordesigner, and special attention has been paid to the look and feelof the rooms, from the patterns on wallpaper down to the hardwoodlook of the floors.

“You want a non-institutional feel for moms delivering babies,”Hoover said. “They want more of a home environment. It’s still ahigh-tech room with new capabilities, but it is designed to lookand feel very comfortable.”

Making labor and delivery patients comfortable is important forthe hospital in an economic sense as well, said KDMC ChiefDevelopment Officer Johnny Rainer.

Labor and delivery services fall under the commercial healthcare market, with births being insured and hospitals paid for theservices, he said. Between 600 and 700 babies are born each year atKDMC, a relatively high number for a facility of its size, hesaid.

Rainer said hopes are the newly renovated labor and deliverydepartment will increase those numbers by drawing more area womento Brookhaven – and away from Jackson – for their childcareneeds.

“A lot of what we’re doing now as far as improving ourfacilities, renovating and building new space is our effort and ourinvestment in trying to compete with Jackson,” Rainer said. “We’retrying to compete with hospitals that are three of four timeslarger than we are, and we do pretty good. Our doctors are as goodas any doctors anywhere, and our facilities are going to be as goodas any facilities anywhere.”

Rainer said Brookhaven’s childcare base is a strong one, withfour OBGYNs and three pediatricians carrying on a cycle of healthcare.

“Those four (OBGYNs) deliver quite a few babies in ourhospital,” he said. “Once that occurs, our pediatricians step inand they’re able to continue to provide excellent care.”

More improvements to KDMC’s childcare facilities are in theworks.

Hoover said the hospital nursery would be moved and expanded assoon as the LDRP rooms are complete. Further renovations that willincrease the number of patient rooms are also scheduled, hesaid.

By December, Hoover said the hospital’s more than two-year, $12million construction and renovation plan will be complete.

“I’m excited to see it come to an end,” he said. “Any time youdo a renovation inside the hospital while you’re still using it,it’s tough on everyone. Our staff has continually provided thehighest quality care with the greatest amount of compassion.”

Though the big project is ending, there is still moreconstruction and renovation in the future for KDMC, Hoover said.But first, everyone is going to rest a spell.

“We’re going to take a big, deep breath, relax and make sure weunderstand how to use and take care of what we’ve made new, andthen see what comes next,” he said.