Last week, Harris Regional Hospital unveiled its latest appointments in women’s and children’s services, introducing Savannah Baylon, MSN, RN, and Emily Ray, RN, RNC-OB, RNC-CCE, as the new leaders in these vital departments.
Baylon assumes the role of director for women’s and children’s services at Harris Regional, bringing with her extensive expertise in labor, delivery, and mother/baby care, as well as a background in bedside nursing, nursing supervision, case management, and utilization review. Her journey to this position includes years of dedicated service as a registered nurse at the New Generations Family Birthing Center within HRH, where she discovered her profound passion for nursing care.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the opportunity, Baylon stated, “I am deeply honored to lead our exceptional team in delivering top-tier care to women and children within our community. Harris Regional Hospital has a longstanding tradition of providing compassionate, high-quality care to mothers and babies, and I am committed to upholding and advancing that legacy as we strive to be the premier destination for women’s and children’s services in Western North Carolina.”
Residing in Jackson County, Baylon’s affiliation as an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians enriches her ability to provide culturally sensitive care to all patients.
Meanwhile, Ray’s journey began at Harris Regional, where she started as a certified nursing assistant during her high school years, eventually progressing through nursing school and earning her registered nurse degree. Since 2012, Ray has been an integral part of the New Generations Family Birthing Center team, harnessing her expertise as a Certified Childbirth Educator and acquiring National Certification in Inpatient Obstetrics. Her dedication to quality and education is evident in her role as an instructor for childbirth education classes conducted on the Harris campus.
Harris Regional Hospital boasts the highest number of births in the region, with an average of 600 newborns annually. Renovations in the 2010s, totaling $5.5 million, revitalized the labor and delivery unit, enhancing patient rooms, nursing stations, and incorporating an operating room for Cesarean-section deliveries. Notable security enhancements, including an advanced alarm system and a specially designed ID bracelet system, ensure the safety of all families.
The hospital’s New Generations Family Birthing Center houses a Level II Special Care Nursery, overseen by board-certified neonatologist Dr. Bernd Holler and a team of skilled medical professionals trained in neonatal care. Equipped with advanced technology and specialized diagnostic equipment, the nursery provides care for premature newborns, infants with various medical needs, and those requiring mechanical ventilation or continuous positive airway pressure.
In recognition of its excellence, Harris Regional Hospital was named to Money Magazine and The Leapfrog Group’s inaugural list of Best Hospitals for Maternity Care in 2022. This prestigious acknowledgment reflects the hospital’s commitment to delivering exceptional care to women and children.
Ashley Hindman, CEO of Harris Regional and Swain Community Hospitals, expressed confidence in Baylon and Ray’s leadership, affirming their contributions to the hospital’s mission of promoting community health through outstanding care. Hindman emphasized the hospital’s dedication to maintaining the trust of the community by appointing qualified leaders.
For further details about the New Generations Family Birthing Center, visit MyHarrisRegional.com. To schedule appointments for women’s or pediatric care, contact 844-414-DOCS (3627).
