Sierra Vista Medical Receives Prestigious International Award

Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center has received prestigious international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Designated birth facility,Baby-Friendly USA, announced earlier this week.

 

The Baby Friendly initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, this prestigious international award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.

 

There are more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers worldwide. Currently there are 422 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the United States.  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.

 

Sierra Vista maintains the only high risk pregnancy program in San Luis Obispo County and is the only hospital in both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties where a woman can deliver vaginally following a cesarean section (VBAC). Sierra Vista also has the only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in San Luis Obispo County. The 22-bed Level III unit is the largest and most experienced between Santa Barbara and Salinas. In addition, to enhance the quality and safety of The Birth Center experience, in early April Sierra Vista initiated an OB Laborist program ensuring there will be a board certified obstetrician on the unit 24/7.

 

 Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. is the U.S. authority 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).