The first cries heard in a hospital often are the most hopeful sounds of all – the unmistakable announcement that a new life has arrived. Now, those cries will echo through a brand-new, state-of-the-art labor and delivery wing at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, where community leaders gathered Dec. 15 to celebrate not just a ribbon cutting, but a deep-rooted commitment to mothers, babies, and the future of Indian River County.
Hospital trustees, board members, elected officials and staff filled the gleaming new space, pausing between speeches to admire delivery suites designed to feel less like a hospital and more like a calm, welcoming retreat for families preparing to meet their newest members.
“When we think about what makes Indian River Hospital special, we think about the beautiful building,” said Dr. Richard Rothman, vice president and chief medical officer at the hospital.
“But what really makes it special is the staff. For eight years, there’s been a lot of conversation about the future of the labor and delivery program, and today it finally comes to fruition.”
Rothman emphasized that the new wing represents more than bricks and mortar. It is a reaffirmation of the hospital’s mission. “We are totally committed to caring for women and children in this community,” he said. “We are thankful to the Indian River Hospital District for ensuring we have a sustainable labor and delivery program with some of the best outcomes in the state of Florida.”
The journey to this moment began seven years ago with a conversation and a bold vision. Longtime John’s Island residents and philanthropists Dace and King Stubbs approached the hospital foundation board with an offer to donate $1 million toward renovating the labor and delivery ward.
“We absolutely love this community and recognize that the future of this town depends on growth and young families,” said Stubbs. “We identified the need for a new labor and delivery ward, and we were more than happy to donate.”
For Stubbs, the hospital is also deeply personal. “I’m very invested in this hospital,” he said. “I spent my whole career here at Indian River Hospital, having moved to Vero in 1974, right after my medical training. I was a physician in these very halls for 30 years.”
Then, as with so many plans across the country, the project stalled when COVID-19 overwhelmed hospitals and healthcare systems. But even during the uncertainty of the pandemic, the commitment to improve labor and delivery services remained firmly in place.
“There were questions about whether a new labor and delivery facility was necessary,” said Indian River County Hospital District trustee Karen Deigl. “We held a lot of town hall meetings about its viability, and the community was very supportive of continuing labor and delivery services. Based on that feedback, we made a commitment to finance the program.”
The numbers tell an important story. Approximately 850 babies are expected to be born in Vero Beach this year. But another 300 or so of the county’s roughly 1,200 annual births currently take place in neighboring St. Lucie, Brevard or Orange counties. It is those expectant mothers who are willing to travel in search of top-notch maternity care that Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital hopes to welcome back home.
The newly renovated labor and delivery wing, combined with the hospital’s exceptional safety record, is designed to do just that.
“There does seem to be an uptick in deliveries in Indian River County,” said Dr. George Fyffe, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Indian River Hospital. “We had 50 babies this month alone, and 24 of those were delivered in the past seven days.”
Fyffe noted that the hospital is already the first choice for more than 75 percent of local mothers. “Our goal is to increase that to 100 percent,” he said. “We’re incredibly grateful to the hospital board, the district, our caregivers and the construction team for making this a priority. Having a state-of-the-art facility allows us to deliver excellent care in an excellent physical space.”
The new wing includes eight delivery beds, four spacious delivery suites and three triage rooms. Mothers will give birth in the new unit before transferring to the existing postpartum care ward, where newborns can remain at their side throughout recovery.
“The new labor and delivery rooms provide families with the comfort and confidence they need as they welcome a new baby,” Fyffe said. “This initiative advances our commitment to improving quality, reducing C-sections, and expanding services for at-risk mothers and babies.”
Research increasingly shows that environment and ambiance matter during childbirth. The updated design helps manage pain and anxiety, allowing mothers to focus and feel more in control. These factors can reduce the need for interventions such as emergency C-sections or induced labor.
Despite Indian River Hospital’s strong outcomes, some women choose to deliver outside the county. Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital currently operates a Level One Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, while some nearby hospitals offer Level Two or Level Three NICUs. For most deliveries, however, the likelihood of needing that level of care and being separated from a newborn is less than two percent.
In fact, the neonatal mortality rate at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital is just 0.8 deaths per 1,000 births, which is nearly five times better than the average hospital in Florida. Combined with the presence of a maternal-fetal medicine specialist providing advanced prenatal care, those numbers position the hospital as a premier choice for expectant mothers.
With its soothing décor, modern amenities and renewed commitment to women’s health, the new labor and delivery wing sends a clear message – families no longer have to leave their community to receive exceptional care.
As the ribbon fell and the doors officially opened, the celebration felt fittingly symbolic. In a space designed for first breaths and first embraces, the hospital itself was beginning a new chapter – one that keeps the county’s newest residents exactly where they belong, in their own community, close to family, friends and home.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
