Avera Marshall adds services to benefit youngest patients
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MARSHALL -- Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center recently went live with Neonatal Intensive Care (eNICU) services through Avera eCARE. Avera is also now serving as a breast milk depot.
Avera Marshall is one of seven Avera sites that now offer eNICU care. This service offers the ability to visually connect Avera Marshall's local care team with the Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) team at Avera McKennan during times of critical need with newborns said Avera Marshall Chief Nursing Officer Dodie Derynck.
"The system uses a camera over the baby warmer allowing the NICU team to see both the clinicians at onsite and the baby. We've had support from Avera McKennan in the past but it was conducted by phone. The new technology will enhance the care we're able to provide" Derynck said.
This service has also been added at Avera facilities in Pipe,stone, Pierre, S.D., Parkston, S.D. and Milbank, S.D. and Sioux Center, Iowa and Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Avera Marshall's breast milk depot service offers a local drop-off site for women who wish to donate surplus milk.
Donated milk is sent to the Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa where it processed and distributed to hospitals to help give new babies a healthy start.
Avera Marshall receives processed milk back from the milk bank that can be given to its youngest patients.
"Research has shown that breast milk is the optimal nutrition for babies. There are many benefits like immune system boosters and infection fighting factors. Having donor milk available in hospitals can be especially beneficial for premature infants or newborns with medical conditions," said Avera Marshall Women's Center Supervisor Kim Peterson, DNP.
Peterson said donor milk can also be given to newborns whose mother's milk isn't available yet.
"It offers an alternative option to bridge the gap besides using formula," she said. "We're happy to be able to give new parents here that choice at no cost during their time in the hospital."
Women interested in donating milk at Avera Marshall should contact Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa at 877-891-5347. A brief screening process is required. Once an individual completes the screening, they receive supplies and drop-off instructions. More information is available online at www.uichildrens.org/mothers-milk-bank-iowa.
Avera facilities in Aberdeen, Pierre and Sioux Falls, S.D., also serve as depot locations.
More information on obstetrics care at Avera is available at Avera.org/birthing.