September 30 2021 – St. Lucie Medical Center is proud to announce that it has achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation after a rigorous four year review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA.
This distinguished honor demonstrates that St. Lucie is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.
The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. St. Lucie is the first hospital on the Treasure Coast to earn the distinction and joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world and one of 27 hospitals in the state of Florida. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.
“St. Lucie has long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns,” said Jay Finnegan, St. Lucie Medical Center CEO. “This designation is a tribute to our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life.”
St. Lucie was also named in Newsweek’s 2021 annual list of best maternity hospitals in the U.S for demonstrating excellence in maternity care.
St. Lucie Medical Center is a facility of HCA East Florida. HCA East Florida is the largest healthcare system in Eastern Florida and an affiliate of HCA Healthcare (HCA). HCA East Florida has 14 hospitals, multiple ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care centers, physician practices, imaging centers and free standing emergency care facilities, as well as a supply chain center and an integrated regional lab. Together, HCA East Florida employs more than 18,000 employees and has more than 6,600 physicians on staff. For more information, visit HCAEastFlorida.com.
HCA EAST FLORIDA
Aventura Hospital and Medical Center + Highlands Regional Medical Center + JFK Medical Center + JFK Medical Center North Campus + Kendall Regional Medical Center + Lawnwood Regional Medical Center + Mercy Hospital + Northwest Medical Center + Palms West Hospital + Plantation General Hospital + Raulerson Hospital + St. Lucie Medical Center + University Hospital & Medical Center + Westside Regional Medical Center
About Baby-Friendly USA
As the accrediting body and national authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the United States, Baby-Friendly USA is responsible for upholding the highest standards in infant feeding care by coordinating and conducting all activities necessary to confer the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation and ensure the widespread adoption of the BFHI in the US. Learn more about Baby-Friendly USA and the BFHI at www.babyfriendlyusa.org.