Record number of births reported at Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital

SILOAM SPRINGS — Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital’s Obstetrics Unit celebrated a record-breaking year for 2011 with 585 babies born at the hospital.

The highest record held was in 2007, with 580 infants born.

“It’s exciting,” said Loretta Jordan, director of the obstetrics unit. “Our delivery numbers have gone up every year except for two years since 1998. We had our biggest year in 2011.”

Dr. Chad Hill delivered 309 babies and Dr. David Crownover delivered 274. During five months of 2011, more than 50 babies were delivered each month. Dr.Hill and Dr. Crownover, OB/GYN physicians at Siloam Springs Women’s Center, have been working together for more than seven years. In January, Dr. Crownover will be leaving to relocate with his family in another state.

Knowing about the transition, Dr. Hill and SSMH officials are working hard to recruit a physician to join the women’s center.

“We’re working with some wonderfully trained OB/GYN candidates,” said SSMH Chief Executive Officer Kevin Clement. “We should hear something within the next 30 days and be making an announcement who the new physician is soon.”

Dr. Todd Hannah of Bentonville will be available to help with deliveries at SSMH for a few months in 2012.

“It has been a very busy year,” Jordan said. “But we’re working toward 600 babies, that’s our goal.”

In addition to a high goal, the OB Unit also is preparing to move to the hospital on Progress Avenue.

“We’re looking forward to the expansion of the unit and the new equipment,” Jordan said. “We’ve outgrown our current facility. At the destination hospital, we’ll have more rooms for patients.”

The hospital on Progress Avenue will feature six labor and delivery suites; two post partum rooms; and two triage rooms. A waitingroom will be connected to the nursery where family members will be able to view the newborns easily. There also will be a lactation room where patients can meet with SSMH lactation consultants.

“We also offer prepared childbirth classes for expectant parents to help prepare them for the childbirth experience,” Jordan added. “This includes a tour of our current OB Unit.”

And before the destination hospital opens, expectant parents will have an opportunity to tour the OB Unit and see where their baby will be born.

For more information on tours or prepared childbirth classes, please call SSMH at 549-2443.