Press Date: 12/03/2007

The central Ohio division of the March of Dimes has recognized OhioHealth and Riverside Methodist Hospital’s Linda Newhouse, MSN, WHNP, RNC, for their leadership and support of March of Dimes’ mission: to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. 

OhioHealth received the Health Leadership Corporate Award. Newhouse, a women’s health practitioner and educator at Riverside, was awarded the Health Leadership Advanced Practice Nurse Award.

OhioHealth hospitals leading the way in mother and infant care  
Hospitals in the OhioHealth family offer a comprehensive array of state-of-the-art maternity services. Central Ohio hospitals include Riverside, the largest birthing hospital in the region; Grant Medical Center; Doctors Hospital; Grady Memorial Hospital and Dublin Methodist Hospital, opening Jan. 8, 2008. Committed to lowering the rate of birth defects, premature births and infant mortality, OhioHealth hospitals offer a range of services to help mothers before, during and after their pregnancies, including:

Riverside OB/GYN Community Care, Doctors Women’s Health Center and Grant Outpatient OB Clinic – Staffed by residents, these practices provide prenatal and post-partum care as well as gynecologic services for women regardless of their ability to pay. 

• Riverside’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine – A highly experienced team of Maternal-Fetal specialists provide personalized care for women who are at risk for pregnancy-related problems. 
• Mothers’ Milk Bank of Ohio – Started at Grant, the Milk Bank provides human milk from 350 donors to infants in need at 23 hospitals in 15 states. Research shows human milk helps premature babies who are failing to thrive or have life threatening conditions.
• Collaboration with Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Utilizing evidence-based practice and research, an interdisciplinary team from Nationwide Children’s gives specialized care to infants at Riverside’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit and the Special Care Nurseries at Grant and Doctors. 
• The Elizabeth Blackwell Center at Riverside – The center offers a variety of resources, including childbirth education courses, outpatient lactation consultation and pregnancy massage.
• Wellness on Wheels – Supported by the OhioHealth Foundation, the program uses a specially equipped mobile unit to visit area high schools to provide on-site prenatal and follow-up care to young mothers.

“We have a dedicated group of staff and physicians at OhioHealth who provide outstanding care to mother and baby so they have the best possible outcomes,” said Connie Garrison, MSN, RNC, CNA, BC, Riverside’s director of Women’s Health Services. “I am excited that OhioHealth won this award for supporting the mission of the March of Dimes. It is an honor for adult-centered hospitals to receive an award for care and services provided to infants.”

Riverside nurse shows exceptional talent and passion for the care of mothers and infants
Linda Newhouse is a leader in the education and support of pregnant women and their children. “The leadership role Linda has assumed has made Riverside a leader in providing exceptional care to pregnant women and their families. She has also made contributions to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature births and infant mortality,” said Garrison.  

Newhouse is a member and leader of numerous women and infant care and education groups. Her involvement includes serving as vice president of the Perinatal Education Consortium for central and southern Ohio; serving as chair of Riverside’s annual Perinatal Conference Planning Committee; and chair of the central Ohio chapter of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. Newhouse serves on the planning committee for Riverside’s Family Care Unit’s Evening Out series and is involved in Riverside’s Shaken Baby Education Program. She is also an instructor at the New Directions Career Center in Columbus. 

OhioHealth and its associates are dedicated to serving as advocates and educators of maternal and infant health in order to bring the rates of premature births, birth defects and infant mortality down. 

“OhioHealth is pleased to be recognized by March of Dimes and is proud of the long-standing community partnership we have shared to meet the healthcare needs of our community,” said Debbie Donahey, director of Community Relations for OhioHealth.   

According to March of Dimes, one out of eight babies in the United States is born prematurely. The Centers for Disease Control estimates one in 33 children is born with a birth defect and the infant mortality rate stands at seven infant deaths per 1,000 live births among infants less that one year old.

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