The Indiana State Department of Health has announced Perinatal Level of Care II certification to Franciscan Health Dyer, 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 June 15 after satisfying the requirements for an Obstetric Level of Care II and Neonatal Level of Care II facility. Hospitals designated Level II can provide care to appropriate high-risk maternal patients and special care to infants delivered as early as 32 weeks or who are moderately ill with problems expected to resolve rapidly. The designation also requires a high level of quality improvement and education of all members of the hospital team.
The Indiana Department of Health completed its Perinatal Levels of Care certification visit on May 27. The certification is effective for the next three years and will be posted on the premises to be viewed by patients.
President and CEO of Franciscan Health Dyer/Hammond/Munster Patrick Maloney congratulated the Family Birth Center staff at a celebration of the certification. “I want to thank each and every one of you for all the hard work,” he said.
The Family Birth Center in Dyer, which opened on Nov. 9, 2021, is in the process of a multi-phase upgrade, including a renovation of patient rooms and Level II NICU to provide state-of-the-art facilities and high-quality care for new mothers and babies.
Indiana’s Perinatal Level 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.
