Douglas Blaine Hazelbaker, age 51, a resident of rural Redfield, passed away early Monday, May 1, 2017, at the Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott.
Doug was born May 31, 1965, to Alice and Norman Hazelbaker. He and his wife, Jana, were married on August 17, 2002, and are the parents of daughters, Dylan and Dakota. In 1983, he graduated from Uniontown High School. While in high school, he competed in the Kansas State High School Rodeo Association, and he was the state champion in both calf roping and steer wrestling, and the Reserve All-Around cowboy his senior year. While attending Allen County Community College and Northwestern Oklahoma State University, he competed in both calf roping and steer wrestling, while earning a Bachelor’s degree in education. Doug began his teaching career as a 4th grade teacher and was teaching middle school math at Jayhawk-Linn in Mound City, where he touched the lives of many young people and worked with wonderful friends over the past 25 years. His passion for calf roping extended well beyond college, and he logged many miles from rodeo to rodeo, building great friendships over the years. Some of his accomplishments in calf roping include IPRA rookie of the year, Great Lakes PRCA circuit finals contestant, Cheyenne Frontier Days performance qualifier, and IFR qualifier in 1991. In 2016, he qualified for the Interstates Rodeo Association finals, and Dylan wears his jacket from that association. He also competed in the United Rodeo Association for many years, and in the year end finals for 2016 finished 5th overall in the over 40 calf roping. Dakota is honored to wear his URA jacket, and Dylan proudly wears the belt buckle he won.
Survivors include his wife Jana and daughters Dylan and Dakota of the home; parents, Norman and Alice Hazelbaker, Redfield, Kans.; a sister, Carol Camac and husband Joe, Augusta, Kans.; a brother, Mike Hazelbaker and wife Susan, Alma, Kans.; nieces and nephews, Cole, Travis, and Lucas Camac, Cole Fowles, Cassidy Anderson, Quincy and Emma Charleston, and Cooper, Colton, and Canyon Charleston.
Cowboy Preacher Marty Brock will conduct memorial services at 11 a.m. Friday, May 5, at the Fort Scott Fairgrounds Arena. In case of inclement weather, the memorial service will be moved inside the Danny and Willa Ellis Fine Arts Center at FSCC. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. at the FSCC Agriculture Building (Armory). In lieu of flowers, the family strongly suggests memorials to the Hazelbaker Girl’s Scholarship Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.
Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com. The family asks for any special memory or story of Doug to be brought to the service or mailed to Jana Hazelbaker, 1311 Hwy 54, Redfield, KS 66769. These memories will be used to compile a scrapbook for Dylan and Dakota
On Saturday, May 6, the Fort Scott Community College Rodeo Team will compete against professionally-ranked FSCC alumni during The Clash at Arnold Arena, 2108 South Horton, Fort Scott.
The event will include a barbecue meal, team competition, silent auction and live auction.
The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with a barbecue dinner. After the meal, the competition will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Matches will include barrel racing, bareback riding, breakaway roping, bull riding, calf roping, goat tying, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling and team roping. FSCC alumni who will be competing include Stewart Gullager, Austin Graham, Carl Taylor and more.
Admission for the dinner is by donation, and ticket prices for competition are $8 for adults, $5 for students, $3 for children ages six to 12, and free for children ages five and under. Proceeds from the event will benefit scholarships for rodeo students. For more information or to purchase tickets, call FSCC Head Rodeo Coach Chad Cross at 620-223-2700, ext. 7020.
Extension has been helping people for more than 100 years. A lot has changed since the Extension service was created in 1914, but the one thing that remains the same is the mission of Extension. Extension means “reaching out.” Extension agents reach out and extend their knowledge and resources to the public. Extension is for everyone to use!
The Extension philosophy is to help people help themselves by taking university knowledge to where people live, work and play. We strive to be very attentive to the needs of the people and provide quality information and problem-solving tactics for everyday concerns.
In recent years, with literally everything being on the internet, people might say we don’t need Extension anymore because I can get all the information I need on the internet. Although you can find tons of information on the internet, it is often difficult to determine what is true and what is not. Many times, we get calls from people that have found information on-line, tried it and it actually made things worse.
The environment in southeast Kansas is much different than it is in, say Ohio, but your internet search isn’t going to know that. It’s kind of like searching symptoms of bodily pains. If you search long enough, you will be convinced you are dying because your big toe hurts! We offer that human interaction that you just can’t get with a computer.
Anyone that has a lawn or landscape can benefit from the local Extension office. The weeds you try to keep from growing in your lawn, or the tree that has holes in the trunk, or the spots on your tomato leaves are all areas Extension offers advice.
Your local Extension office is here to help you with problem-solving tactics specific to your needs and to give you the tools to improve the situation. On the horticulture side, you can obtain information on trees, turf, flowers, insects, gardens, soils and other related topics. The office can assist you with any specific plant or insect problem you may have encountered. Home evaluations are even offered when necessary to gather additional information about a specific horticulture problem.
Many times when I take a call, the person on the other ends starts the conversation by saying “I have a dumb question.” My response is always this – “There are never any dumb questions when you call the Extension office.” My job is to help the public with whatever question or issue they may have and to try to educate them. I may not always have the answer they are looking for immediately, but 99 percent of the time I can find an answer.
This summer, there will be three demonstration gardens in the Southwind District for people to view and take notes of plant performance. Pepper plants will be trialed at the Elm Creek Community Garden and tomato plants will be trialed at the community garden in Fort Scott. The plots will be labeled, so feel free to stop by and take a look. Also, a flower demonstration will be at the Allen County Courthouse. The flowers will be planted in the raised berms on the south side of the courthouse.
We often hear that Extension is the best kept secret. Many folks don’t know what we do or what we have to offer. I want you to know that we are your source for all things horticulture!
During the growing season, I am in the Erie office Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Iola on Tuesday and Fort Scott on Thursday. However, you can always reach me by e-mailing [email protected] or calling 620-244-3826.
Ian Ray “Kirk” Keitzer, age 56, a resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, April 24, 2017.
He was born September 9, 1960, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of James Keitzer and Joyce Smith Keitzer. Kirk grew up in the Brookside area of Kansas City. He attended and graduated from the Kansas City Christian High School in Merriam, Kans., with the Class of 1978. He later attended College of the Ozarks in Branson, Mo. Kirk was an avid sportsman who enjoyed baseball, basketball, football, golf and fishing. He moved to Fort Scott in 2003 and worked for Carlisle Company until his illness forced his retirement.
Survivors include his sweeties and companion of thirty years, Rhonda Chinn, of Fort Scott and her children, Rachelle Sprague and Bart Chinn, both of Fort Scott; his grandchildren, Lee Sprague, Justice Sprague, Mia Hull, Garrett Chinn, and Darius Chinn, all of Fort Scott, Sarah English and husband, Josh and great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Elijah and Sophia English all of Peculiar, Mo. Also surviving is a sister, Renee Grainger and husband, Frank of Belton, Missouri. He was preceded in death by both his parents and his two brothers, Allen and Eric Keitzer and his beloved grandmother, Helen Stonebreaker Smith Tanner.
A private graveside service will be held Thursday at the Fairview Cemetery east of Mildred, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Lewis Kelley Arnold, age 91, a former resident of Fort Scott, Kans., and more recently of Pittsburg, Kansas, died Monday, April 24, 2017, at Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg.
He was born September 21, 1925, in Fort Scott, the son of Lewis B. Arnold and Susie M. Kelley Arnold. Kelley graduated from the Fort Scott High School. He served with the United States Army during World War II. He first married Maxine Ashford on September 9, 1951, at Fort Scott. She preceded him in death on July 14, 1998. He later married Carol Simmerman. She preceded him in death on March 5, 2015.
Kelley had managed the Ben Franklin Store in downtown Fort Scott for many years. He later operated his own mechanic shop. He was a member of the Community Christian Church. He was also a member of the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Garland Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite Consistory and the Mirza Shrine.
Survivors include two granddaughters, Natasha Carballo and husband, Eric, and Nacole Smith and fiancé, John Williams, all of Dallas, Texas, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wives, he was preceded in death by a son, Stephen Arnold and a daughter, Susan Smith.
Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends on Friday from noon until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Avalon Hospice’s Blossom for Hearts Program and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Troy Dale Beerbower, age 54, a resident of Fort Scott, Kans., passed away Saturday, April 22, 2017, at the Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott.
He was born April 24, 1962, in Fort Scott, the son of Lowell William Beerbower and Donna Kay Lawson Beerbower. He graduated from Fort Scott High School and Pittsburg State University. He married Kim Felt in May of 1989. Troy owned and operated Troy Beerbower Restoration which specialized in masonry and roofing as well as other construction related projects. He enjoyed fishing and spending time outdoors. He also liked playing softball and basketball as well as cards. He was a member of the Faith Church.
Survivors include his wife, Kim of the home; three children, Derek Stumfoll and wife, Samantha, and Amanda Larsen, all of Fort Scott, and Kandyce Cox and husband, Blake, of Uniontown, Kans., and also a grandson who he was raising, Brian Stumfoll, of the home in Fort Scott; eleven additional grandchildren, Bailey, Blakely, Catherine, Christian, Lyrics, Braxtyn, Daetyn, McKennon, Peighton, Kamden and Gabriel. Also surviving are four brothers, David Beerbower and wife, Donna Jo, of Fort Scott, Allen Beerbower and wife, Kim, of Redfield, Kans., Gary Beerbower, and L. W. Beerbower and wife, Julie, also of Fort Scott and a sister, Rhonda Tinkey and husband, Preston, of Fort Scott as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Pastor Matthew Hunt will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Friday, April 28, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Marmaton Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Troy Beerbower Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
The Kansas State University Meat Animal Evaluation Team won National Champion honors in the 2017 Collegiate Meat Animal Evaluation Contest in Manhattan, Kans. The team was recognized Tuesday, April 4, at the Stanley Stout Center following the three-day competition.
Team member Chase Gleason, Uniontown, Kans., won high individual overall honors at the National Collegiate Meat Animal Evaluation Contest. He also won high individual in the market animal and swine divisions.
The event, previously known as the AKSARBEN contest, now rotates between host institutions across the country. The competition includes live market animal carcass predictions and pricing, breeding animal evaluation and meat judging competition, and truly serves as a capstone judging experience for students with its incorporation of so many industry-applicable concepts.
The team first won the market animal, breeding, swine and communication divisions of the contest.
Individually, K-State had three place in the top 10 overall. Gleason, Uniontown, Kans., won the high individual title. Shelby Teague, Fort Morgan, Colo., placed third overall and Brooke Jensen, Courtland, Kans., was fourth overall.
“We are proud of our students and coaches for their hard work and accomplishments,” says Ken Odde, K-State Animal Sciences and Industry department head. “This is a challenging contest that not only tests a student’s ability in meat and livestock evaluation, but also requires that they understand pricing, which is particularly important in today’s value-based marketing system.”
The Fort Scott Community College Music Department will present the annual Spring Concert on Thursday, April 27, at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, 2108 South Horton, Fort Scott, Kans.
The choir’s performance will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a solo xylophone performance by student Bryce Sandstoe. Choir selections will include “Alleluia,” by Randall Thompson and a Wizard of Oz medley. The band will perform a nonstop rock revue, which will cover rock music from 2017 to 1959.
FSCC Baseball Program to Host 5 Corners Mini Mart Youth Camp
The Fort Scott Community College Baseball Program will host the annual 5 Corners Mini Mart Youth Camp on Tuesday, May 2, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Lions Club Field in Fort Scott, Kans.
The camp is open to students ages four through 14. Campers will receive instruction from FSCC’s baseball coaching staff and players on fundamentals including base running, hitting and throwing. The cost for the camp is $15 per student; the fee includes a t-shirt. Registration will begin at 5 p.m. at the Lions Club Field.
FSCC Men’s Basketball Program to Host Summer Basketball Camp
The Fort Scott Community College Men’s Basketball Program will host its annual summer basketball camp from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, June 5, through Thursday, June 8, at Arnold Arena, 2108 South Horton, Fort Scott.
The camp, open to students grades 3-9, will emphasize basketball fundamentals including ball handling, shooting and defense as well as strategy and conditioning. Campers will receive individual and group instruction from FSCC’s highly qualified staff.
Rose Alene Feagins, age 83, a resident of Fort Scott, Kans., passed away Sunday, April 16, 2017, at her home.
She was born October 9, 1933, in Alpena Pass, Ark., the daughter of Alex C. Craig and Stella Garrison Craig. She married Billy Joe Feagins on December 9, 1951. They later divorced. Alene had worked in housekeeping and as a nurse’s aide for Mercy Hospital for thirty years. She retired in 1996. She enjoyed gardening, embroidering and reading as well as spending time with children and her dogs. She also collected glass baskets and salt and pepper shakers. She was a member of the Marmaton Community Church.
Survivors include her seven children, Wanda Ogle and husband, Dale, of Fort Scott, Margaret Spencer, of Pittsburg, Kans., Ruth Hawkins, of Fort Scott, Randy Feagins of Fort Scott, Karen Bley and husband, Randy, of Deerfield, Mo., Michelle Cunningham and husband, Mike, of Leavenworth, Kans., and Michael Feagins and wife, Kim, of Fort Scott. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Irene Feagins and Dorothy Wiebeck.
Pastor Jeff Feagins will conduct funeral services at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 19, at the Marmaton Community Church. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Marmaton Community Church or to Paws & Claws Animal Shelter and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Edna Mae Tourtillott, age 78, resident of Fort Scott, died Monday, April 17, 2017, at her home.
She was born October 19, 1938 in Linn County, Kans., the daughter of Jacob Barrett and Cleta Paddock Barrett. Edna Mae was a graduate of Prescott High School. She married Richard Sharp in 1960. They later divorced. She married Raymond Tourtillott in 1983. In earlier years she worked for Western Insurance Company. She retired following 27 years as shipping clerk for Ward Kraft Business Forms. She was a member of Community Christian Church and the 55 Plus church group. She enjoyed camping and spending time with grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, Raymond, of the home; two sons, Richard Sharp and wife, Jennifer of Olathe, Kans., and David Sharp and wife Michelle, Fort Scott; one daughter, Sherry Culp, Fort Scott; two step-sons, Michael Tourtillott and wife Sandy, Las Cruces, N.M., and Joseph Tourtillott and wife Becky, Fort Scott; one sister, Mildred Bolin, Fort Scott; and a sister-in-law, Carol Barrett, Fort Scott. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Robert Barrett; sister, Mary Johnson and a great-grandson, Gavin Sharp.
Tim Woodring will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Friday in the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Chapel. Memorials are suggested to either Mercy Hospice or SE Kansas Respite and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Virginia Maxine Page, age 85, a former resident of Fort Scott, Kans., passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at the home of her daughter in Bozeman, Mont.
She was born April 20, 1931, in St. Clair County, Mo., the daughter of Omer Finis Witt and Virgie Ann Bland Witt. She started to school at the age of four and graduated high school at the age of sixteen. She then attended Kansas City College and Bible School, as well as the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. She married Rev. John I. Page on August 1, 1951, at Black Jack, Mo. She was a faithful and devoted wife who assisted with her husband’s ministries in both Black Jack Church of God (Holiness) and the Parkway Church of God (Holiness) in Fort Scott. She served as choir director and church pianist. She was always a gracious hostess and will be remembered for her apple and pecan pies. Another one of her passions was spreading the gospel message to the people of Haiti. She had gone on numerous mission trips to Haiti and was currently serving as President of Haiti Missions, Inc.
Survivors include her four children, Brenda Parsons, of Peculiar, Mo., Carma Judy and husband, Mike, of Orange, Texas, Courtney Cresse and husband, Jonathan, of Bozeman, Mont., and Jonathan Page and wife, Kasee, of Lawrence, Kans.; eight grandchildren, Brett Parsons and wife, Kimberly, Carly Parsons and fiancé, Joe Cameron, Lynden Judy and wife, Katie, Cade and Colter Cresse, and Sierra, Jonas and Orrin Page; and four great-grandchildren, Ava Parsons, and Tally, Claire and Jhett Judy. Her husband, Rev. John I. Page, preceded her in death on January 28, 1999. She was also preceded in death by her parents, a son-in-law, Dr. Charles Parsons, two grandsons, Charles Anthony Parsons and Gabriel John Parsons and a brother, Edward Cleo Witt.
Rev. Jonathan Cresse will conduct funeral services at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, at the Parkway Church of God (Holiness). Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Parkway Church of God (Holiness) 1111 State St., Fort Scott, Kans. Memorials are suggested to Haiti Mission, Inc. and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Mercy Hospital Fort Scott Receives an “A” for Patient Safety
Mercy Hospital Fort Scott has earned The Leapfrog Group’s prestigious “A” rating for its commitment to reducing errors, infections and accidents that can harm patients.
Dr. John Fox, Mercy Clinic Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Photo Credit: Mercy Hospital
According to the announcement from The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization committed to driving quality, safety and transparency in the U.S. health care system, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott earned top marks nationally with the “A” rating for Patient Safety in spring 2017. Hospital Safety Grades assigns A, B, C, D and F letter grades to hospitals nationwide.
“This honor reflects our dedication and commitment to providing quality care to our patients in the safest way possible,” said Brenda Stokes, RN and Mercy Executive Director Quality Assurance/ Risk/ HIM. “Our ‘A’ rating affirms the emphasis we put on ensuring our community has access to the best healthcare possible. Our physicians, clinical staff and support staff strive to deliver safe, quality, evidence-based care to every patient, every time.”
Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group explained, “Hospitals that earn top marks nationally in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, have achieved the highest safety standards in the country. That takes commitment from every member of the hospital staff, who all deserve thanks and congratulations when their hospitals achieve an ‘A’ Safety Grade.”
Developed under the guidance of an expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
To see Mercy Hospital Fort Scott’s full grade, and to access consumer-friendly patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
Drug Take-Back Program
On April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., local law enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your medications to the parking lot of Mercy Convenient Care at 1624 S. National for free, anonymous, “no questions asked” disposal.
Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is made possible through the partnership of Bourbon County Sherriff’s Department, the Fort Scott Police Department and Mercy Hospital Pharmacy.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
March of Dimes Recognizes Mercy Hospital Fort Scott
Most moms-to-be are aware that the steps to having a healthy baby begin long before birth, but many may not understand the negative health impact of delivering a child prior to 39 weeks without medical reason.
“The last weeks of pregnancy are important,” said Paul E. Jarris, MD, MBA, March of Dimes Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. “Babies aren’t just putting on weight. They are undergoing important development of the brain, lungs and other vital organs.”
Even babies born just a few weeks early have higher rates of hospitalization and illness than full-term infants, the March of Dimes says. Although the overall threat is small, the risk of death more than doubles for infants born at 37 weeks of pregnancy when compared to babies born at 40 weeks, for all races and ethnicities. Babies who survive an early birth often face lifelong health challenges, such as breathing problems, cerebral palsy and learning disabilities.
As part of the March of Dimes campaign to reduce the number of early elective deliveries (EED), the agency is partnering with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) and the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative (KHC) to recognize Kansas birthing hospitals that pledge to eliminate early elective deliveries.
“We commend Mercy Hospital Fort Scott for reducing the number of elective inductions and cesarean deliveries performed before 39 weeks of pregnancy to less than five percent of all deliveries,” Jarris added.
“I’m extremely proud of the work to reduce the number of early elective deliveries at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott,” said Reta Baker, Mercy Hospital president. “This took great teamwork from our Mercy physicians, nurses and obstetric unit. It is a tremendous accomplishment that will give many more babies a healthy start in life.”
Dr. Larry Seals, Mercy OB/GYN, said, “Teamwork is the key. Collectively, we recognized the problem of unnecessary early deliveries and put in place policies to avoid scheduling c-sections or inductions before 39 weeks of pregnancy, except when medically necessary.”
In the past five years, Mercy Hospital has reduced the number of EEDs from 34 percent in 2011 to zero percent in 2016.
“The recognition by the March of Dimes helps us spread the message that ‘Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait,’” Seals added. “The March of Dimes campaign urges women to wait for labor to begin on its own if their pregnancy is healthy, rather than scheduling delivery before 39 weeks.”
