December 2016, Newton, NJ – Baby-Friendly USA announced that Newton Medical Center, part of Atlantic Health System, has received prestigious international recognition as a Baby-Friendly designated birth facility. The designation comes just months after Newton Medical Center expanded its role as Atlantic Health System’s destination for births for the Sussex and Warren County region serviced by Newton and Hackettstown medical centers, as well as Pike County, Pennsylvania. It joins sister hospitals Morristown and Overlook medical centers, both of which announced receiving the Baby-Friendly designation earlier this year.“The Baby-Friendly designation means that Newton Medical Center’s Maternity Center joins an elite group,” said Fran Drigun, director, pediatric and women’s service lines, Atlantic Health System. “This type of designation only comes to fruition when nurses and physicians work collaboratively in delivering and supporting both clinical care and the patient experience.”Newton Medical Center’s maternity center has 17 beds as well as a two-bed Level II neonatal intensive care unit“I couldn’t be more proud of our maternity center team,” said Joe DiPaolo, president and Sussex-Warren Regional Executive. “Having a regional maternity center to address the needs of patients from Sussex, Warren and Pike counties reflects our commitment to the highest quality care for mothers and babies. Being honored with this prestigious award at three of Atlantic Health System’s hospitals shows that our organization is committed to creating a trusted network of caring.”Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. is the U.S. authority for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (“BFHI”), a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, this prestigious international award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies. There are more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers worldwide. Currently there are 396 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the United States. The “Baby-Friendly” designation is given for a period of five years after a rigorous on-site survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice the Ten Steps as demonstrated by quality processes.
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About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System, headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey, is one of the largest non-profit health care systems in New Jersey. Atlantic Health System has created a Trusted Network of Caring™. Our promise to our communities is that anyone who enters our system will receive the right care, at the right quality, at the right time, at the right place and at the right cost. Our network includes Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ; Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ; Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ; Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ; and Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, as well as Atlantic Rehabilitation, and Atlantic Home Care and Hospice. It also includes its subsidiary, Atlantic Ambulance Corporation. Atlantic Health System comprises 1,599 licensed beds, more than 14,000 employees and more than 4,000 physicians. Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University; a Major Clinical Affiliate of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; part of Atlantic Accountable Care Organization, one of the largest ACOs in the nation, and is a member of AllSpire Health Partners.
Learn more about our Trusted Network of Caring™ at Atlantic Health System >