SUGAR LAND, TX (May 1, 2024) – St. Luke’s Health-Sugar Land Hospital has added a new service to ensure that women in labor have access to the care they need, as they need it. The hospital’s Family Birthing Center now includes an Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) Hospitalist program.

Hospitalists are physicians who specialize solely in caring for patients who are hospitalized, rather than those in a clinical office setting. OB/GYN hospitalists focus exclusively on providing care for women in labor and delivery. St. Luke’s Health-Sugar Land worked with OB Hospitalist Group, a national physician group specialized in obstetrical care, to set up the program.

Jaime Hernandez, MD, Maternal Medical Director for the St. Luke’s Health-Sugar Land Family Birthing Center, said the hospitalist program expands the existing network of support and that many hospitals are unable to provide this support of the natural childbirth process.

"We work with our community’s OB/GYNs, family physicians doing obstetrical work and certified nurse midwives to enhance continuity of care for pregnant women, new mothers and their infants,” Dr. Hernandez said. “The hospitalist program underscores our commitment to quality care in our Family Birthing Center. It also allows us to offer vaginal births after cesarean section delivery.” 

In addition to the hospital’s Level II Maternal Designation, the Family Birthing Center includes a Level II NICU along with Texas Children’s Hospital neonatology support around the clock. 

“The hospitalists, who are board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, will be available to supplement care already provided,” said Pamela O’Connell, Director of Women’s Services at St. Luke’s-Sugar Land. “Hospitalists care for transfer patients with high-risk pregnancies and provide emergency services for all obstetrics patients, including those with a private physician, until that physician’s arrival.”

The OB Hospitalist program extends the safety net for private practice obstetricians throughout Sugar Land and Fort Bend County, but does not replace them.

“A woman’s obstetrical care should never be delayed,” said Dr. Hernandez. “This is the kind of care and treatment we all want for our loved ones. Hospitalists also provide an obstetrical safety net for patients with limited access to care along with our community partners such as the San Jose Clinic.” 

St. Luke's-Sugar Land is located at 1317 Lake Pointe Pkwy. in Sugar Land and can be reached at 281-637-7000.

About St. Luke’s Health

St. Luke’s Health is home to 16 hospitals covering Houston, Brazos Valley, Brazosport, and Lufkin and includes Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, the research and teaching hospital for Baylor College of Medicine. St. Luke’s Health is also home to the Texas Heart ®Institute (THI), the top-ranked heart center in Houston, and the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, a nationally accredited, NCI-designated cancer center. Its integrated network of care includes more than 380 employed and 1,600 clinically aligned network providers, and more than 21,000 employees, providers, interns, and volunteers delivering high-value, nationally-ranked quality care within a Christian ministry of healing. St. Luke’s Health is a part of CommonSpirit Health.