PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Temple Hospital now has a new state-of-the-art hospital, specifically focused on women's health, particularly mothers.
The Temple Women and Families Hospital is anchored in Frankford, a beautiful location born out of dire need.
Philadelphia surpasses the national average in both maternal and infant deaths. Many pregnant women have struggled, facing few choices and hours on public transport to receive help, even when in crisis.
"If you look around the City of Philadelphia, 13 out of 19 maternity programs have closed, so that has created a huge void," said Abhi Rastogi, president and CEO of Temple University Hospital.
After surveying the community, "Women and Families" was designed to turn those stats around, starting with a location nestled blocks away from the Roosevelt Boulevard.
"We learned that our current program, 70-75% of our patients come from zip codes that are closer to this facility than the Temple Broad facility, and so it makes it easier to bring great clinical care closer to the patient's home," said Rastogi.
The hospital includes upscale facilities, including 32 maternity rooms and 41 NICU rooms, which are created to keep families together. Although the rooms seem simple, this intentional design is big enough for the baby in its layette to stay with mom.
Furniture is designed to pull out into beds so fathers and extended family can easily stay and support the newborn and mother. Televisions double as a means for women to keep up with their care, learn more about parenting, and order dietary complimentary meals.
Specialists and doctors share team stations with nurses to deliver fuller care faster, and special counselors check in with the newborn and family for the first year.
In addition to maternal care, the hospital offers additional care, including mammograms, cancer, and menopause treatment, with testing, scans and prescriptions all handled on site.