If you think you must leave Lawrence to delivery your baby in Kansas City or Topeka, think again. Or better yet, talk to Lisa Patterson of Tonganoxie.
Because Patterson has confidence in Lawrence Memorial Hospital’s maternity care program, she searched for an OB-GYN who could deliver her son there.
“Not to get too personal, but we had some risk factors to take into account in my pregnancy,” Patterson recalled. “I spoke with my doctor very candidly and he was very comfortable with the services LMH can provide.”
Upon visiting with friends who received maternity care at Kansas City hospitals, Patterson discovered the women left Lawrence just because their doctors were associated with hospitals in the nearby larger city. None of them believed any of Kansas City’s hospitals offered superior maturity care to what Patterson received at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
“Our little guy had some complications, so we had to have an extended stay (at LMH),” Patterson remarked. “The staff dealt with the complications very well.”
Besides receiving “very high” personal care throughout her birthing experience, Patterson said delivering her son at LMH offered other valued benefits, including supporting the community where she works, and convenience. The hospital is located very near Lawrence’s City Hall where Patterson works.
“The hospital is just about six blocks away from work and was very easy to get to during the day,” Patterson added. “And it was convenient for my family and friends to come and visit. And interestingly I knew several of the OB nurses because Lawrence Memorial is a community hospital.”
When Patterson’s father received lung cancer treatment slightly more than two years ago at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, she had an opportunity to see how the staff treated him while he underwent chemotherapy. Patterson remembers her father was able to receive care while remaining productive and maintaining a good quality of life.
“Lung cancer is terminal and he did pass away,” Patterson said. “But it was that experience that convinced me if they could help somebody with such a major disease, then gosh, having a baby ought to be done right there without much trouble at all.”
Look at the new arrivals to our community
Resources for New or Expecting Parents