COVINGTON – St. Tammany Quality Network presented its 2020 fourth-quarter Medical Director’s Award to Dr. Jill Gibson for achieving the lowest C-section rate and the highest deliveries in November.
“We are very proud of Dr. Gibson,” Dr. Michael K. Hill said. “One of our goals at STHS is to reduce elective C-sections, particularly for first-time mothers. Sometimes C-section is medically necessary for the safety of the mother, baby or both. However, the rates at which elective C-sections occur is a national issue, and we are focused at STHS on reducing this rate in our health system. Dr. Gibson is passionate about providing the best care for her patients and has consistently lead in this area.”
As leader in obstetrical care on the Northshore, STHS is proud to partner with the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC) to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, promote safe births with reduction of C-sections, reduce complications with maternal hypertension and eliminate elective deliveries prior to 39 weeks.
Until recently, Louisiana had one of the highest C-section rates in the country. As a result, the Louisiana Department of Health and LaPQC developed a collaborative program to reduce unnecessary C-sections. STHS has been at the forefront in this effort and signed a pledge with LDH to achieve a C-section rate in first-time mothers to less than 24%.
St. Tammany Health System births more babies each year than any other Northshore hospital. The health system’s New Family Center has achieved national recognition and is certified as a Baby-Friendly facility.
Baby-Friendly facilities have three basic tenets which include stressing direct breastfeeding as the optimal way for infants to be nurtured and nourished; the idea that first days in the birth facility should be protected as a time of bonding and support; and that every mother should be informed about the importance of breastfeeding and respected to make her own decision.
Dr. Gibson has been on the STHS medical staff for 8 years. She did her residency at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport and is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has a private practice in Covington.
STQN continuously strives to define and improve the healthcare needs of our community. Promoting wellness is a key component of this quest.
###
The St. Tammany Quality Network is a physician-led organization that demonstrates a commitment to quality and outcomes by creating a medical community aligned around quality initiatives and payer engagement; using a common information technology platform to capture disease specific data to assist in proactive patient care; and collaborate on patient-centric initiatives that enhance the quality and improve efficiency of healthcare delivery.