Corewell Health Lakeland starts new specialized ER for pregnant patients

Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph has opened a new emergency department specifically for pregnant women.

Hospital Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology Dr. Ben Wood tells us the new specialized department is located on the third floor, in the labor and delivery area. Corewell has been talking about opening the Obstetrics Emergency Department for about a year so it could ensure 24/7 coverage for pregnant patients.

“ We want the pregnant patients to be able to be seen quickly and not have to wait in the waiting room for the emergency department because with obstetric emergencies, time is of the essence,” Wood said.

Wood says the OB ED can treat pregnancy-related concerns like decreased fetal movement, high blood pressure, abdominal pain, and signs of labor before 37 weeks.