Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton
How Onsite contributed to 125% L&D growth and the Malcolm Baldrige Award
- Before: 600 births, Level I, partial on-call neonatology coverage, 4 OBs, 3 nurse-midwives
- Today: 1400 births, Level II, 24/7 on-call coverage, 9 OBs, 5 nurse-midwives
In 1996, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton opened a brand-new labor and delivery service. The unit was beautiful, spacious…and empty. Only 4 obstetricians admitted to the hospital, along with 2 nurse-midwives. Volume for the first year was anticipated to be about 600 births.
At the insistence of the obstetricians, the unit always operated with 24/7 coverage, but at first this was accomplished by pediatricians. Within months, the hospital put out bids for
neonatology services; Onsite Neonatal won the bid with the only 24/7 in-house coverage proposal—and an administrative fee $300,000 below the lowest competitor.
From day one, Onsite worked closely with the unit to provide superior service and communications, both with obstetricians and parents. We conducted clinical training for the nursery staff at no additional cost to the hospital and helped design upgrades to the nursery. By 2002, deliveries were up over 1,000 a year.
Onsite also contributed to the high standards that led to RWJ Hamilton’s selection for the Malcolm Baldrige award in 2004. Baldrige awards are awarded by the President of the United States to 4 or 5 companies each year with outstanding qualities of leadership, strategic planning, market focus and process control throughout an organization. For 4 years leading up to the award, Onsite’s senior staff met with RWJ Hamilton’s senior staff quarterly, in order to understand and then exceed their goals for us.
The standards we brought to the Baldrige award have been incorporated throughout all Onsite Neonatal nurseries.
Today, RWJ Hamilton delivers over 1400 infants a year—a 125% increase since we began working together. Nine obstetricians and 5 nurse-midwives now admit there. As admissions increased, we lowered their administrative fee—to their astonishment and delight.
The growth has required 20 new post-partum beds, and the hospital is looking towards eventual expansion to Level III care. When the time is right, Onsite will be ready to lead the way.