Twin Cities Community Hospital Earns ‘Baby-Friendly’ Status, Uses Methods to Help Moms Succeed at Breastfeeding

This achievement means the hospital is using some of the most effective methods known to help moms succeed at breastfeeding. Twin Cities is one of only 268 hospitals and birth centers in the United States to earn this status.

Baby-Friendly USA is the national accrediting agency for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies.

As a Baby-Friendly hospital, Twin Cities is committed to the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, as outlined by BFHI, and provides lactation consultants to offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies. Other important practices of Baby-Friendly hospitals include encouraging skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborns and rooming-in. Both practices encourage bonding and improve the newborn’s ability to breastfeed. Studies also show that immediate skin-to-skin contact help newborns’ maintain their temperatures better, normalize heart and breathing rates and reduce their likeliness of crying.

“We have spent several years working very hard to change practices at Twin Cities and implement each one of the Ten Steps in our organization,” said Carol Howland, chief nursing officer. “This included training both our staff and physicians to ensure high quality of care for new families in our birth center.”

The Baby-Friendly designation is given after a rigorous on-site survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice the Ten Steps as demonstrated by quality processes.

About Twin Cities Community Hospital

Twin Cities Community Hospital, a 122 bed acute care hospital, delivers personalized, quality care, and is committed to advancing the health of communities in San Luis Obispo County.  With a medical staff of over 200 physicians, we specialize in Women’s Health with a new facility on the third floor, Emergency Services with the largest emergency department in the County, Surgery, Orthopedic Joint Replacement services, and a broad array of medical, surgical and outpatient services.

Now you can visit our Emergency department by Appointment, Go to: www.twincitieshospital.com to hold your place in line.

Twin Cities has been honored with four Circle of Excellence Awards for the highest levels of Quality Service and Infection Prevention.  The Critical Care Unit has received the Beacon Award for meeting rigid criteria for excellence, exhibiting high-quality standards, and exceptional care of patients and       patients’ families.  Twin Cities has been designated a “Center of Excellence” by Blue Cross and Blue Shield for Total Hip and Knee Replacement, and is listed in U.S. News and World Report as one of the Nation’s best Hospitals in the treatment of Congestive Heart Failure.

With our sister facility, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, we employ more than 1,200 caregivers and support staff, making us the county’s second largest employers.  Twin Cities is fully accredited by the Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest accreditation agency.