St. Mary's Health Care System has committed to investing an additional $2.4 million in St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital to improve patient safety and upgrade technology and services in areas ranging from the mother/baby unit to the operating rooms.

"St. Mary's is making a major investment in safety, equipment, and quality of care to better meet the needs of our community," said interim President Jeff English. "It's part of our commitment to providing the people of our region with the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve right here, close to home."

In the Mother/Baby Unit, an additional fetal monitor will help doctors and nurses assess more mothers and babies and detect signs of fetal distress during labor and delivery. A new infant transporter will enhance safety and comfort when an infant, especially a newborn with a life-threatening condition, must be moved within the hospital or to an ambulance or helicopter.

"Safety and quality are the most important factors when families are deciding where to deliver their baby," English said. "We understand that, and want to give every family delivering at St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital extra peace of mind that mother and baby will be well cared for."

Also important to the Mother/Baby Unit will be a new ultrasound system, which can be used to check on the health of developing infants in the womb. In addition, ultrasound can be used in children and adults to provide vital diagnostic images. Ultrasound studies can reveal important information about the heart, breasts, blood vessels, bones, joints, muscles, and internal organs. The technology can be used in treatment, too, such as to provide precise guidance when performing a biopsy.

In Sacred Heart's operating rooms, several enhancements also are aimed at improving safety and quality of care.

"We are investing heavily in new surgical equipment and technology to enable our surgeons to perform more minimally invasive procedures and surgeries not currently done here at Sacred Heart," English said.

Among the enhancements are:

• Stryker power equipment. Improves patient outcomes by making a variety of orthopedic surgical procedures more accurate and efficient.

• Harmonic scalpel. Using ultrasonic vibrations rather than electric current, this high-tech general surgery instrument enhances precision and safety.

• Fiberoptic light source. Delivers bright light to surgical locations inside the body through a thin, flexible fiber. It allows surgeons to clearly see the surgical site during minimally invasive procedures that use small "ports" instead of large incisions.

• Vpro low-temperature sterilization. State-of-the-art system allows for rapid sterilization of surgical instruments that are sensitive to heat and moisture.

• Laparoscopic instruments. Enable surgeons to perform more surgical procedures with minimally invasive techniques.

In addition, Sacred Heart Hospital is acquiring state-of-the-art IV infusion pumps and mobile vital signs monitors.

"It's also important to note that these investments make Sacred Heart Hospital a more appealing place for physicians to practice," English added. "Ultimately, being a more attractive place to provide care brings more physicians to our community and further enhances the care we can provide locally. It's a good investment not only for St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital, but for everyone in our region."