Gundersen Lutheran Health System Inc.

06/09/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/09/2025 12:23

Leading the way in maternal care

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Leading the way in maternal care

Monday, June 09, 2025

For decades, Emplify Health by Gundersen has stood at the forefront of maternal care. After all, supporting the health of mothers means supporting the health of entire families-and their communities.

This commitment to excellence in maternal care is demonstrated in many ways throughout the system, including a new Medical Education program that will improve maternal care in rural areas and our pioneering midwifery program.

"Our midwifery program is the first and longest-running midwifery program in Wisconsin, and it continues to be very successful."

CARING FOR MOMS CLOSE TO HOME
Obtaining access to obstetric care in rural and underserved areas can be challenging for patients due to the lack of qualified providers or lack of hospitalswith labor and delivery units. This can lead to patients traveling long distances to receive their obstetric care or, unfortunately, being unable to receive obstetric care due to the travel barrier.

However, Gundersen Medical Foundation's new Family Medicine - Obstetrics (OB) Fellowship will help ensure moms can get care close to home. This Medical Education program offers a newly-graduatedFamily Medicine resident or a practicing physician who plans to serve in a rural or an underserved community the opportunity to receive advanced training in obstetrics.

Graduates of the one-year fellowship receive clinical and surgical training that is nottypically part of Family Medicine Residency training. This includes additional experience managing low- and high-risk pregnancies and performing deliveries, including cesarean sections. The fellow also spends time caring for patients in rural areas during the training.

A MILESTONE IN MATERNAL CARE
While the fellowship is still in its first year, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the midwifery program at Emplify Health, a program that has been a cornerstone in providing compassionate, personalized care for expectant mothers.

The midwifery program was initiated by Jerome Gundersen, MD, in 1975. In that year, Cynthia DeLano, the first certified midwife, delivered 12 babies. Fast forwarding to 2024, there were a total of 1,818 deliveries at the La Crosse hospital, and the 11-person team of certified nursing midwives delivered 767 (42%) of them.

"Our midwifery program is the first and longest-running midwifery program in Wisconsin, and it continues to be very successful," says midwife Carleen Poellinger, MS, CNM. "We proudly celebrate this milestone as a testament to the dedication and expertise of our physicians and midwives who collaborate tirelessly to provide the highest quality care to our patients."

Carleen and the other midwives consistently excel at helping women achieve a low-intervention pregnancy and birth. In 2024, for example, Emplify Health boasted a primary cesarean rate of 11%-just under three times lower than the national average of 32.3% (last reported by March of Dimes in 2023).

While these numbers are impressive, they do not capture the total impact. "One aspect of our midwifery team that defies measurement is their special nature," says Amy Frauenkron, MS, RN, clinical operations director for Obstetrics & Gynecology. "They are not only personable but also shine at fostering meaningful relationships with patients throughout their pregnancy journey. Their ability to connect personally with patients is truly next level."

In addition to the 11 midwives at the La Crosse hospital, there are also midwives at regional locations in Tomah (2), Viroqua (2) and West Union (1), providing high-quality, compassionate care to patients in those ruralcommunities.

Together, the midwifery program and new fellowship program underscore our organization's ongoing commitment to nurturing families and communities. In fact, because both programs were the first of their kind in Wisconsin, they also demonstrate our dedication to being leaders in maternal care, illustrating our belief that every mother deserves exceptional care close to home.

Safeguarding the health of women and families

In February 2025, the newly-renovatedObstetrics & Gynecology Unit located on Level 5 of Emplify Health by Gundersen La Crosse Hospital was unveiled during a special celebration. As part of this event, Ted Peck, MD, OB/GYN, was honored for his exceptional contributions to maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrical ultrasound.

From 1977 to 2016, Dr. Peck served as a perinatologist specializing in high-risk pregnancies. During those 37 years, he worked with both local and regional medical professionals to care for expectant mothers and their babies, improving the health and well-being of countless women and families.

In recognition of his extraordinary service, Gundersen Medical Foundation dedicated the Dr. Ted Peck Ultrasound Suite as a tribute that will serve as a lasting reminder of his dedication and the profound impact he has made in the field of women's health and obstetrics.

Gundersen Medical Foundation also announced the establishment of the Obstetrics & Gynecology Endowment Fund. This fund will be used to enhance services, invest in new technologyand provide educational opportunities for staff. In honor of Dr. Peck, special priority will be given to supporting ultrasound technology, continuing his legacy of transforming care and advancing ultrasound services.

If you'd like to help us continue to provide cutting-edge care to mothers and their babies, click hereto direct a gift to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Endowment.

Gundersen Lutheran Health System Inc. published this content on June 09, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 09, 2025 at 18:23 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io