SMITH CENTER, Kan. – Meagan Oliver and Tyler Sumpter welcomed Iris Neil Sumpter on Jan. 14 as the first baby born in Smith County Memorial Hospital in 2019.
Iris, the first child of Oliver and Sumpter, weighed 7 pounds, 7.4 ounces and measured 19 3/4 inches long at birth.
As the “New Year’s Baby,” Iris and her parents will receive several items from area businesses including a humidifier from SCMH; baby box from Family Healthmart; $10 gift certificate from Gene’s Heartland Foods; a silverware set from Smith County Family Community Education Council; a one year subscription to the Smith County Pioneer; $25 scrip money from the Smith Center Chamber of Commerce; a free large pizza from Pizza Hut of Smith Center; the baby’s first haircut from Hair Graphics; $25 gift certificate from A Full House; $25 scrip money from The Peoples Bank; a 10 percent discount wooden nickel from Orscheln’s; a baby blanket and bear from American Family Insurance-Brigitte Lyon Agency; baby supplies from B’s Bargains; a children’s book from the Smith County Kiwanis; $25 gift certificate from the Guaranty Bank; and a free bible from the Smith County Ministerial Association.
“We are very happy to be part of a community that supports each other and our facility,” said Allen Van Driel. “This is a tremendous outreach effort by our community and our staff feels blessed to pass along the community support to our patients.”
Van Driel pointed out that OB services are becoming harder for rural facilities to provide.
“One of the benefits of having such excellent staff and facilities is the ability to continue to grow our services and therefore serve our patients better,” he said. “OB care is just one example of an area where we’ve improved our facility and level of care.”
Van Driel explains that the new hospital offers LDRP rooms where new mothers labor, deliver and recover all in the same space. They are able to spread out in the large rooms, bond with their new baby and have several visitors at once without feeling overwhelmed by the physical space.
Technology has also played a part in improving patient care.
“When a baby is born, the LDRP rooms go into ‘lockdown’ meaning the baby can’t be removed from the facility without an alarm sounding,” Van Driel said. “Security has become a big factor in where families choose to doctor and we wanted to be on the forefront of technology.”
Overall, Van Driel is pleased with the new opportunities for OB patients and families.
“Whether it’s the first baby of the year or any new life, we’re extremely happy to have the opportunity to be part of these families’ celebrations and new journeys.”