The Indiana State Department of Health has announced Perinatal Levels of Care III certification to Franciscan Health Crown Point, signifying the steps that the hospital has taken to provide specialty care for more complex maternal and fetal conditions and complications.
Franciscan Health was notified of its designation on Wednesday, Nov. 6 after satisfying the requirements for an Obstetric Level of Care III and Neonatal Level of Care III facility. Those requirements include 24-hour in-house availability of a neonatologist and obstetrician, along with other support services. Carrie Renschen, MSN, RNC-NIC, director of the Family Birth Center at Franciscan Health Crown Point, noted that the designation also requires a high level of quality improvement and education of all members of the hospital team.
Franciscan Health Crown Point is one of the first hospitals in the state to complete the designation process. The State Department of Health completed its Perinatal Levels of Care certification visit on Oct. 25. The certification is effective for the next three years and will be posted on the premises to be viewed by patients.
“Our team provides high quality, compassionate care and I am proud that the Indiana State Department of Health has recognized our work with this stamp of excellence,” Renschen said. “We will continue to work together to give our moms and babies the best outcomes possible.”
Dr. Daniel McCormick, Franciscan Health Crown Point president, and CEO, said, “We’ve had the privilege to assist thousands of expectant mothers in their journey to parenthood. Now, as we prepare to develop a new, state-of-the-art hospital in Crown Point, this is yet another step in our own journey to deliver university-level care to the citizens of Northwest Indiana.”
Indiana’s Perinatal Levels of Care rating system was signed into law in 2018 by Gov. Eric Holcomb as part of the state’s effort to reduce infant mortality. The system designates four levels of care to provide patients with information to help decide the best hospital for their delivery.
