Photo by Amy Cherry Certified Nurse Midwife or CNM, Julie Syzmanski, RN, MSN is the newest addition to ERHC staff.

By Amy Cherry

Staff Writer

Expectant mothers and women of the area can now take advantage of Elk Regional Health Center’s midwifery services beginning Monday, Aug. 10.

Julie Syzmanski, RN, MSN, is the newest addition to the hospital’s staff as a certified nurse midwife (CNM). Kathie Murray, LPN is assisting Syzmanski in her new office located on the ground floor of the rehabilitation building on Elk Regional’s St. Marys campus. Both have extensive training in obstetrics and labor and delivery.

“I’m very committed to meeting the needs of all women in the area and am excited to be able to provide this service. The hospital has been extremely supportive and together we’ll give back to the community,” Syzmanski said.

Midwives offer a myriad of services from expert care, education, gynecological care ranging from routine exams, contraceptive care, menopausal support as well as counseling, family planning services and support for a woman and her newborn during the childbearing cycle. They may also prescribe medication on an as-needed basis and are well educated in the prevention of problems and maintenance of good health.

“It’s terrific we have this service. There are not many hospitals in rural communities that have midwife services,” said Elk Regional Health Systems Marketing Director Amy Murphy. “In addition some women are also more comfortable with a female care provider.”

Szymanksi explained that only procedures midwives cannot perform are cesarean sections, gynecological surgeries and must consult, collaborate or refer a patient to an OBGYN doctor when dealing with high risk pregnancies.

Szymanski holds a nursing degree from the St. Vincent’s Health Center School of Nursing in Erie and a bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay.

She began her nursing career in her hometown at Kane Community Hospital and has worked in St. Marys since 1991, where she has worked extensively in labor and delivery. During that time she spent two years as a case manager at KCH as well.

“My nursing experience has been invaluable in being able to recognize and respond to emergency situations,” Szymanski said. “I’ve been waiting for a long time to do this (midwifery).”

She went on to obtain her masters degree in midwifery in April through a certified accredited graduate program offered by the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing, based in Kentucky.

Upon passing her national certification exam, Szymanski did her clinical rotation at Conemaugh Memorial Hospital in Johnstown where she worked with three midwife preceptors as part of an intensive residency during which time she delivered 40 babies.

“I wanted to be a midwife because I believe that a woman’s labor and delivery is a natural process. Maternity is my love. It is an experience that impacts your life and I want to make it the best she can have. This is done when you start early in a pregnancy with education and support and help a woman make her own choices about birth and support her ideal of what it should be,” Szymanski said. “It is such a privilege to see a new baby come into the world.”

She added that she has taught numerous pre-natal and breast feeding classes but never had the opportunity to be a part of the actual delivery process.

By broadening their scope of services Elk Regional is becoming part of the growing trend throughout the U.S. of acquiring midwives as part of hospital staffs. Midwives are licensed to practice in all 50 states.

Midwives generally have longer appointment times and more personal relationships with their patients, often discussing lifestyle factors and addressing emotional needs as well. Many studies have shown women under the care of CNMs have a lower incidence of pre-term birth, low birth weight and cesarean sections.

Szymanski has been working since April in establishing her office at Elk Regional.

Elk Regional offers midwifery services in St. Marys, Kersey, Johnsonburg, Ridgway and Emporium. Women interested in this new service may contact ERHC at 788-8118.