A new program to improve maternity services at the Creston Valley Hospital was launched on Tuesday.
The goal of MORE (Managing Obstetrical Risk Efficiently) OB is, according to its website, to “sustain a culture of safety by developing the knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviours, and practices that make safety the number one priority and everyone’s responsibility, all the time.”
The three-year program funded by Interior Health will allow doctors and midwives to take part in online learning, drills skills and workshops that will provide instruction on the most up-to-date evidence-based practices for taking care of maternity patients and families.
“It’s going to unify all the professionals in the Kootenays with what we’re doing,” said Dr. Karen Persad.
At CVH, the program, created by the patient safety division of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada in 2002, will benefit five doctors and two midwives, who will be able to learn from local specialists.
“It’s not someone else coming in to teach,” said Persad.
The local maternity care community is also pleased to welcome to Creston a new surgeon/anesthetist couple, Drs. Nerine Kleinhans and Barry Oberleitner. This will allow for more consistent coverage for caesarean section and epidural availability, which has had some gaps over the last 18 months — and with about 100 births possible at CVH each year, their presence is vital.
“It’s a fabulous asset to have,” said Persad. “We now have enough surgeons and anesthetists here that we can probably always provide coverage.”