West Jefferson Hospital Foundation invests valuable resources to help treat postpartum hemorrhage

(Pictured: Julie Escudier (WJH Foundation), Tinka Barrios (Family Birth Place), Kelli Arnold (Family Birth Place), Kathryn Jenkins (Boomtown Casino), and Dr. Geoffrey Gillen (Family Birth Place).

The West Jefferson Hospital Foundation is proud to announce its latest investment for West Jefferson Medical Center by acquiring two new Rapid Response Units to help quickly treat patients with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in our labor and delivery department.

Postpartum hemorrhage can be a serious condition where a woman has heavy bleeding after giving birth. Rapid response units are an all-in-one treatment system that contains all the medical supplies needed to treat PPH and can reduce response times by up to 9 minutes. Dr. Geoffrey B. Gillen(Obstetrics and Gynecology) says, “The Family Birth Place is focused on implementing initiatives to reduce PPH and treat it as quickly as possible if necessary. Rapid response units are an indispensable tool to help us treat PPH in a moment’s notice and can potentially save lives.”

Funds for the rapid response units were raised through the West Jefferson Hospital Foundation’s participation in the 2024 Crescent City Classic – Run for It program. Through the fundraising efforts of charity walkers/runners and generous donations from local organizations and businesses like Boomtown Casino and Hotel, the foundation was able to contribute $29,000 for this support of labor and delivery patient care.

Kathryn Jenkins, General Manager of Boomtown Casino and Hotel, says, “Our team at Boomtown is committed to supporting the Westbank community. We were excited to partner with the West Jefferson Hospital Foundation to invest in maternal health and make an important impact for families on the Westbank.”

The West Jefferson Hospital Foundation is thrilled to be joining Crescent City Classic – Run for It program again this year. Fundraising efforts will continue to support the Family Birth Place Fund for investments in new medical technology, education, and elevated comfort and support for new moms and newborns. Learn more at wjmc.org/runforit.

About the West Jefferson Hospital Foundation

The West Jefferson Hospital Foundation (WJH Foundation), founded in 2004, is a charitable organization benefiting West Jefferson Medical Center, the only full-service community hospital on the West Bank that serves Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Charles parishes, and beyond.

As a charitable support organization of our community hospital, the WJH Foundation is dedicated to raising private funds to enhance patient care. The funds raised by the WJH Foundation provide additional investment in the Medical Center’s mission of health, care, and education beyond extraordinary.

About Crescent City Classic
The Crescent City Classic 10k road race is held every year the Saturday before Easter Sunday. The Classic is locally produced and is a great way to get in shape while having fun. The 10-kilometer course (6.2 miles) begins in Downtown News Orleans in front of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, runs through the historic French Quarter, and then all the way up tree-lined Esplanade Avenue to City Park where a huge concert festival is held immediately following the event for all the runners and walkers. The 2025 CCC10K is scheduled for Saturday, April 19.

The Run For It Program is the Official Charity Program of the Crescent City Classic. The goal of the Run For It Program is to raise $1 million annually for our local community in the Greater New Orleans area. Each year, the Crescent City Classic Foundation selects local charities to support and partner with for the 10k race.

Official Charity Partners recruit and form teams of runners, joggers and walkers who commit to raising a minimum of $200 for their charity by race day.