University of Iowa Health Care has opened an expanded inpatient postpartum unit, adding capacity for new parents at its university campus as part of a larger effort to address growing demand for maternal care in Iowa.
According to a news release, the 30,000-square-foot renovation of the seventh floor of the John Pappajohn Pavilion was completed April 7, with staff welcoming parents and newborns to the new space. The project brings the total number of inpatient maternal care beds on the university campus to more than 60.
The renovated unit includes dedicated exam room space, additional work areas for staff and a windowed newborn viewing area. UI Health Care’s university campus is designated as Iowa’s only Level 4 maternal care center by Iowa Health and Human Services.
“When we started this project, approximately 3,000 babies were born at our university campus every year and that number continues to grow,” said Christian Pettker, MD, chair and department executive officer of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UI Carver College of Medicine in a statement. “Our department will thrive in this expanded unit, allowing us to provide world-class care to families facing both normal and complex pregnancies. Opening this unit is a major milestone in our mission to face and overcome the challenges facing maternal health in Iowa, and our teams continue to develop innovative solutions to improve maternal health outcomes for all our patients.”
The postpartum expansion is one part of a broader UI Health Care facilities initiative. A second phase — an expanded labor and delivery space — also began this year.
“We’re committed to meeting Iowans’ needs for expanded maternity services across our entire health system. This project on our university campus increases our capacity to care for the most critical, high-risk pregnancies in a setting with the most advanced equipment and highest level of expertise anywhere in the state,” said Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, UI vice president for medical affairs and the Tyrone D. Artz Dean of the Carver College of Medicine in a statement. “This initiative is possible thanks to broad and ongoing support across multiple fronts. We’re grateful to everyone involved in the expansion process, especially the community members who put their trust in us as they look to grow their families.”
The Iowa Board of Regents approved the project in summer 2024. Beyond the campus expansion, UI Health Care is also pursuing outreach and training programs in rural communities as part of its statewide maternal health strategy.
