Fountain Valley, CA – MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center (OCMC) has announced that it has received approval from the California Department of Public Health for its Obstetrical Emergency Department (OB-ED).
Located within the Childbirth Center, the OB-ED is open 24 hours a day/7 days a week, and offers enhanced coverage to pregnant women with obstetrical concerns. The OB-ED assesses, treats, and discharges obstetrical patients and ensures that a specialist in high-risk obstetrics evaluates every patient to help improve patient safety. All women over 20 weeks pregnant are seen by a board-certified obstetrical provider who evaluates her, and her baby’s condition.
When a pregnant patient presents to the Emergency Department with symptoms such as abdominal pain or a bladder infection, she is treated by her primary OB physician. If the physician is unable to see the patient within 30 minutes due to a delivery or procedure, an OB laborist, who is onsite 24/7, readily examines and treats the patient after being triaged by a dedicated OB-ED nurse.
The following symptoms may prompt an expecting mother to be seen in the OB-ED:
- Abdominal pain
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Concern about pre-term labor
- Conditions related to high-risk pregnancy (such as high blood pressure)
- Decreased fetal movement
- Ruptured membranes
- Urinary tract or bladder infections
The primary objective of the OB-ED is to enhance overall patient care, safety, quality of care – including fewer complications and return visits, as well as improved patient satisfaction.
Congratulations to our team of exceptional OB physicians and our labor and delivery team for this notable achievement, we are confident that OB-ED will have a significant, positive impact on the health our expecting mothers to be and their tiny bundles of joy.
Marcia Manker, CEO, Orange Coast Medical Center
For more information about the Obstetrical Emergency Department at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center, please log on to memorialcare.org/OB-ED.