Texas Health Presbyterian Plano receives international accolade as "Baby-Friendly"

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano receives international, local recognition for excellence in Women’s & Children’s Services

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano has been re-designated as a “Baby-Friendly” Hospital by Baby Friendly USA, Inc., a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

The re-designation means that Texas Health Plano has consistently maintained distinct high standards of care for breastfeeding families, and has carried out advocacy, education and policy work supporting and promoting the benefits of breastfeeding.

“I delivered my second baby at Texas Health Plano and having immediate skin-to-skin contact was an indescribable feeling and something that I didn’t get to do with my first delivery,” Journey Choi, Plano mother of two, said. “I think that delivering at a ‘Baby-Friendly’ hospital made a huge difference in my successful breastfeeding. After some initial struggles, I don’t think I would have succeeded without the patient help from lactation consultants and the breastfeeding support group. I am so happy to see how this program has grown, and am not surprised that the hospital received recognition.”

According to Baby-Friendly USA, mothers who give birth at “Baby-Friendly” hospitals are more likely to initiate exclusive breastfeeding and more likely to sustain breastfeeding at six months and one year of age. The U.S. Department for Health and Human Services reports that breastfeeding is linked to better health for both moms and babies. For breastfed babies there is a decrease in childhood leukemia, asthma, ear infections and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For mothers, breastfeeding leads to a lower risk of type II diabetes, certain types of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

“At Texas Health Plano we work very hard to give moms and babies the best possible start with evidence-based practices,” said Christy Escandon, R.N., MBA, CENP, chief nursing officer at Texas Health Plano. “Creating a pro-breastfeeding environment is good for the whole family, and I could not be more proud of our team of caregivers that worked to earn this designation again.”

There are currently 14 other “Baby-Friendly” designated hospitals in Texas, with eight of those being Texas Health hospitals, and only 326 “Baby-Friendly” hospitals in the United States.

The hospital has also been voted the “Best Place to Have a Baby” in Collin County by readers of DallasChild magazine for the fifth year in a row. The designation is of special importance to caregivers, as it is decided by local moms.

“Winning the Best Place to Have a Baby always make us feel very special because there is a lot of competition in Collin County,” said Dawn Nichols, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, director of nursing for women and children’s services at the hospital. “We work very hard to provide every family that delivers in our hospital a personalized experience that fits their family’s needs, which really makes a difference.”

As the market leader in Women’s Services in Collin County, Texas Health Plano has welcomed more than 22,000 babies into the world in the last five years. In 2015, there were 3,828 babies born at the hospital, up from 3,773 in 2014. Other stats include:

• 106 sets of twins
• Six sets of triplets, with five of those born in June
• Popular names were Charlotte, Oliver, Henry and Aiden
• With 367 births, June was the busiest birth month for the hospital

For more information about having a baby at Texas Health Plano, visit TexasHealth.org/Plano-Maternity.

About Texas Health Resources

Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 25 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial, Texas Health Harris Methodist and Texas Health Huguley Hospitals, Texas Health Physicians Group, outpatient facilities, behavioral health and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1.877.THR.WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.