Methodist Earns Highest Level of Care for Critically Ill Moms

Methodist is a Level IV Perinatal Center, the highest level center there is, meaning it is equipped to treat intensely sick pregnant women. In turn, Methodist helps a whole lot of healthy babies come into this world.

Inside the rooms of IU Health Methodist Hospital, the gentle coos of newborn babies and the sweet cries, too, can be heard.

Many are babies born to moms with acute conditions, critically ill mothers who have come to Methodist to get the highest level of care available.

Methodist is a Level IV Perinatal Center, meaning it is trained with skilled staff — physicians, nurses, surgeons and more — to treat intensely sick pregnant women.

And, in turn, Methodist helps healthy babies come into this world. 

To be a Level IV center, the highest level possible, Methodist boasts the following:

  • Capabilities and considerable experience in the care of the most complex and critically ill pregnant women throughout antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum care.
  • In addition to having ICU care onsite for obstetric patients, Methodist has a maternal–fetal medicine care team that has the expertise to assume responsibility for pregnant women and women in the postpartum period who are in critical condition or have complex medical conditions.
  • A maternal–fetal medicine team member with full privileges is available at all times for on‐site consultation and management.
  • The team is led by a board‐certified maternal–fetal medicine subspecialist with expertise in critical care obstetrics.
  • The director of obstetric services is a board‐certified maternal–fetal medicine subspecialist or a board‐certified obstetrician– gynecologist with expertise in critical care obstetrics.
  • In accepting maternal transports, the level of neonatal care required for an anticipated delivery and care of the baby is in place.

— By Dana Benbow, Senior Journalist at IU Health.

   Reach Benbow via email dbenbow@iuhealth.org or on Twitter @danabenbow.