A new maternity hospital in North Philadelphia, the Women’s and Families Hospital, is set to provide enhanced labor and delivery services starting on September 3, 2023. This facility, operated by Temple Health, aims to address the growing need for maternity care in the region, particularly as other local programs are reducing services or shutting down.
The Women’s and Families Hospital will centralize all labor and delivery services within the Temple Health system. Previously, the majority of births occurred at the Main Campus hospital on Broad Street, where space limitations often hindered comprehensive care. The new facility, located in the Lawncrest neighborhood, occupies the former Cancer Centers for America building and features five floors dedicated to both inpatient and outpatient services.
Facilities and Services Designed for Families
With an average of 2,000 deliveries each year, Temple Health recognized the urgent need for a dedicated maternity facility. Sharon Kurfuerst, the executive director of the hospital, emphasized this necessity, stating, “We know that there’s a maternal desert out there.” The hospital will employ approximately 385 staff members, including specialized maternal and pediatric healthcare providers.
During a recent tour, Kurfuerst highlighted the hospital’s large, private delivery rooms, which are designed to foster a supportive environment for birthing parents. Each room is equipped with a hospital bed, a pullout sleeper sofa for support persons, and essential medical equipment to ensure immediate post-delivery care for newborns. Kurfuerst noted, “This is where the baby gets quickly assessed and taken care of.”
Postpartum care will take place in one of the 32 private maternity suites, complete with en-suite bathrooms and recliners for overnight guests. This design encourages rooming-in, which has been shown to promote better clinical outcomes for both mothers and their infants.
For newborns requiring additional medical attention, the hospital boasts a 41-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), nearly double the capacity of the NICU at Temple’s Main Campus. The facility also includes an eight-bed intensive care unit for high-risk pregnancies, ensuring comprehensive care for complications that may arise during childbirth.
Expanding Community Health Services
In addition to maternity and neonatal services, the Women’s and Families Hospital offers a range of outpatient healthcare options, including radiology, behavioral health, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and cardiology. Many of these services are already operational, providing essential support to families in the area.
The hospital will also host an office for the Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, which assists low-income families with resources for purchasing nutritional products, breastfeeding education, and infant care guidance. Kurfuerst emphasized the overarching goal of the new facility: to improve access to community healthcare and reduce both infant and maternal mortality rates.
By focusing on specialized care and community needs, the Women’s and Families Hospital aims to fill gaps in maternity services across the region. “To do that, you need focused care and you need people to be able to access the care when they need it,” Kurfuerst stated.
The opening of this facility represents a significant step toward improving maternal and infant health outcomes in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. As the hospital prepares to welcome families starting in September, it stands poised to make a substantial impact on the health and well-being of the community.
