PA Department of Health Names AHN Forbes Hospital a Keystone 10 Facility

Allegheny Health Network’s Forbes Hospital has been named a Keystone 10 designated facility, in recognition of its support of mothers and babies, and efforts to promote and encourage breastfeeding.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health developed the Keystone 10 quality initiative to assist birthing hospitals in implementing evidence-based maternity care practice, with a goal of improving breastfeeding care and rates, and ultimately improving the health of mothers and babies. Participating facilities focus on breastfeeding initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact and rooming-in, among other elements. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months, and that breastfeeding continue for a year or longer while other foods are introduced. According to the Centers for Disease Control, benefits of breastfeeding for infants include fewer infections, lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and a lower risk of asthma, obesity and Type 1 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“At AHN Forbes Hospital Women’s and Infants Center, we are proud that more than 90 percent of our new mothers choose to breastfeed,” said Nurse Manager Tiffany Mayer, MSN, RN. “To support mothers in this choice, we offer prenatal breastfeeding classes, lactation counselors who are International Board Certified along with Certified Lactation Counselors, phone consultations, mandatory education for nurses, obstetricians and pediatricians, post-discharge support, and promotion of 24-hour rooming in.”

“We also provide the support for skin to skin care following all deliveries including newborns delivered by cesarean birth immediately in the OR. We provide thorough discharge instructions,   and call new mothers 3 to 5 days after discharge to check on their well-being, answer any questions, and ensure they have access to community support,” Mayer added.

“This outstanding Keystone 10 achievement was three years in the making and a collaborative effort including OBGYNS, pediatricians, nursing managers and staff, family medicine physicians and lactation consultants,” said Bernard Peticca, MD, Director of Labor, Delivery, Nursing and Postpartum at Forbes and Patient Experience Lead for the AHN Women’s Institute. “This dedicated team delivers expert, family-centered care that gives mothers and infants their best start at a healthy future.”

Birthing centers at AHN's West Penn and Jefferson hospitals are also Keystone 10 facilities.

Every year, more than 1,300 families choose Forbes Hospital to deliver their babies. The Women’s and Infants Center features family-centered birthing suites equipped with the latest technologies and designed to allow husbands and partners to room-in. A Level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Center located on the same floor as the birthing suites provides high-level care for newborns with medical needs.

“Congratulations to the dedicated team at AHN Women’s and Infants Center at Forbes on achieving Keystone 10 designation,” said Mark Rubino, MD, President, Forbes Hospital. “Their commitment to personalized, expert care, and to the health of women and babies, has made Forbes the fastest-growing women’s and infants center in Western Pennsylvania.”