West Branch is Expecting – Maternity Services Coming 2021

WEST BRANCH, Mich. – MidMichigan Health is excited to announce the return of maternity services to MidMichigan Medical Center – West Branch in 2021.

“From the beginning of the affiliation discussions, returning maternity care to the West Branch community was a top priority for our leadership, the local board of directors and community members,” said Diane Postler-Slattery, Ph.D., FACHE, president and CEO, MidMichigan Health. “Expanding women’s health services in this area fits nicely with our focus of always putting the patient first and keeping services close to home when possible.”

The more than $2 million improvements and equipment purchases will create a comfortable, state-of the-art, family focused place for women to give birth. The new design features: four labor, delivery, recovery, post-partum (LDRP) suites; three private care rooms, a renovated and newly equipped cesarean-section delivery suite; upgraded nursery; and a new advanced security system for mom and baby.

“The new area will have a comfortable home-like environment,” explained Nicole Gillette, A.D.N., B.S.N., M.S.N., vice president of nursing, MidMichigan Medical Center – West Branch. “Patients will be welcomed by friendly, skilled staff that will be with them throughout their entire labor process ensuring an excellent experience.”

With the return of maternity services, MidMichigan is building upon the many services already in the community to provide comprehensive women’s health services in West Branch. Vickie Bannister, W.H.N.P.-B.C., a board-certified nurse practitioner has been caring for women for more than 30 years and returned to her home community in 2017.

“I’m excited to see the maternity services return to provide another key service for women in our area,” said Bannister. “I look forwarded to working with MidMichigan to make this a reality.”

The MidMichigan Health Foundation will launch a fundraising campaign to provide financial support for the new service and to help educate the community on the services available. Those interested in learning more are encouraged to contact Nicole Potter, director, at (989) 343-3694 or email at nicole.potter@midmichigan.org.

In addition to the new Emergency Department and recent facelift at the Medical Center, expanding women’s health services is another example of MidMichigan’s commitment to investing in the community.

“As the county’s largest employer, we are growing and expanding the Medical Center,” said Ray Stover, president of MidMichigan Medical Center in West Branch and Gladwin. “We look forward to continuing to provide excellent care for the entire community and are anxious to welcome the newest residents at the Medical Center next year.”

MidMichigan Health, a non-profit health system headquartered in Midland, Michigan, is a leader in providing award-winning, high-quality care to the 23-county region it serves. With Medical Centers in Alpena, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Midland, Mt. Pleasant and West Branch, MidMichigan Health provides a full continuum of care across a wide array of settings, including urgent care centers, home health, virtual care, as well as medical offices in more than 30 specialties and subspecialties including cardiology, hematology/oncology, orthopedics, vascular surgery, family medicine and more. MidMichigan Health demonstrates its commitment to the future of medicine by partnering with leading institutions to offer medical education programs that train medical students, physicians, nurse practitioner and physician assistant students, nursing students and other clinical experts for our region. Its more than 8,800 employees, volunteers and health care providers work together to create healthy communities through solutions designed to meet the ever-changing needs of the 938,000 residents in the health system’s service area. In fiscal year 2020, MidMichigan Health provided more than $91 million in community benefits, as well as supported its patients and families with new equipment, services and programs with funds raised by the MidMichigan Health Foundation.