An ambitious renovation of the Family Birth Center
at CalvertHealth Medical Center, the first major
update since 1999, is slated to begin in 2025. The
project will renovate 15,000 square feet of existing
space and set a new standard of care for mothers
and newborns in our community.
A Commitment to Exceptional Care
“At CalvertHealth, we believe exceptional care begins at birth,” said
President & CEO Jeremy Bradford. He continued, “Our Family Birth
Center is a cornerstone of this commitment, and this renovation will
ensure our facility continues to offer the best possible start for our
littlest patients. The 15,000-square-foot renovation will transform
our existing space into a modern, patient-centered environment that
reflects our dedication to the families we serve.”
Modernizing for the Future
The renovation will bring significant updates to our Family Birth
Center. This includes the modernization of 12 postpartum rooms and
five labor rooms, designed to provide comfort and safety for both mother and baby. The project will
also add a new consultation room for
breastfeeding support or patient followup,
ensuring new mothers receive the
guidance and care they need during this
crucial time.
A key feature of the renovation is the
addition of four Labor, Delivery, Recovery
and Postpartum (LDRP) rooms. These
rooms allow mothers to experience
the entire birthing process—labor,
delivery, recovery, and postpartum care
– in one location, enhancing comfort
and convenience for both the patient
and her family. This is a standard of
care that is currently not available at
the center, but one the organization is
proud to offer in the near future.
Enhancing Efficiency
and Safety
In addition to these patient-centered
enhancements, the renovation will include a reconfiguration of the nurse
station and other work areas. These
changes are designed to improve the
efficiency of patient care with better
lines of sight and a safer environment
for newborns. This focus on safety and
efficiency aligns with CalvertHealth’s
strategic plan to continuously improve
the quality of care provided to the
community.
Insights from the
Community: Survey Results
CalvertHealth’s commitment to this
renovation is informed by the voices of
the community. In 2023, CalvertHealth
conducted a comprehensive survey
to understand what services and
amenities community members
desire in a Family Birth Center. The
survey, launched on Mother’s Day and
conducted over a month, gathered
feedback from women who were either
currently pregnant or had delivered
within the past five years.
The survey results were
illuminating. The top priorities
identified by respondents included the
need for modernized facilities, more
comfortable postpartum rooms, and
a more family-inclusive approach to
care. Many respondents emphasized
the importance of having access to a
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU),
a feature CalvertHealth leadership is
evaluating as part of our long-term
strategic planning.
Expanding Women's
Health Services
In tandem with the renovation of the
Family Birth Center, CalvertHealth is
also investing an additional $3 million
to enhance women’s health services by
creating a new Women's Health Suite
in the Calvert Medical Office Building. Currently, CalvertHealth Obstetrics
& Gynecology sees patients in three
separate suites, with specialty care
often taking place in yet another suite
or even off-site. This new 14,581-squarefoot
suite will combine many women’s
health services into one centralized
location, providing greater convenience
and continuity of care.
This new suite will also offer rotating
access to specialized care in maternal
fetal medicine, gynecologic urology,
gynecologic oncology and primary
care. This consolidation is part of the
health system’s ongoing commitment
to providing comprehensive, accessible
care for women at every stage of life.
In recent focus groups, participants
highlighted the need for local access
to maternal fetal medicine. Many
expectant mothers currently drive to
Annapolis or Brandywine one to two
times per week for this specialized
care. By providing these services locally,
CalvertHealth aims to reduce the burden
on patients and ensure they receive the
care they need close to home.
Investing in Local Care
At a time when many rural hospitals
across the U.S. have scaled back or
eliminated their obstetrical services,
CalvertHealth is committed to
maintaining and enhancing these
vital services. With over 200 rural
hospitals ceasing to deliver babies in
the past decade and more than half
of rural hospitals not offering labor
and delivery services as of 2023,
CalvertHealth is taking proactive steps
to ensure that mothers in Southern
Maryland have access to high-quality
local obstetrical care.
CalvertHealth’s vision to be the
trusted healthcare leader, delivering
a lifetime of exceptional care is at the
heart of this renovation. The team
is dedicated to making sure every
family receives the best possible care,
starting from the very beginning of life.
Looking Ahead
As CalvertHealth embarks on this
exciting project, we are grateful for
the support of our community and
partners. The renovation of the Family
Birth Center is a critical step in
ongoing efforts to provide outstanding
healthcare services to Calvert County.
Bradford concluded, “we look forward
to welcoming the next generation of
Calvert County residents in a facility
that reflects our commitment to
excellence.”