Inova Loudoun Recognized by Two National Organizations

Leesburg, VA — March 3, 2014 — Inova Loudoun Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has received the highest rating from U.S. News & World Report.  The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®) and International Lactation Consultant Association® (ILCA®) have recognized Inova Loudoun Hospital Birthing Inn for excellence in lactation care.

Inova Loudoun Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (ILNRC) has received the highest possible overall rating of five stars in U.S. News & World Report’s sixth annual Best Nursing Homes, available exclusively at http://www.usnews.com/best-nursing-homes.

The Best Nursing Homes 2014 ratings highlight the top nursing homes in each city and state out of nearly 16,000 facilities nationwide. U.S. News’ goal is to help the millions of Americans who will spend time in a nursing home in 2014 find a home with a strong track record of good care. According to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, about 60 percent of individuals over 65 will require long-term care services during their lives and over 40 percent will receive care in a nursing home.

Best Nursing Homes draws on CMS data that assigns a rating of one to five stars in health inspections, level of nurse staffing and quality of care and gives each nursing home an overall star rating.

“We are thrilled to be recognized again this year for our accomplishments. The staff is dedicated to offering excellent care to our wonderful patients,” stated Elizabeth Kaeser, RN, MSN, LNHA, Administrator, ILNRC.

In addition to the U.S. News & World Report recognition, Inova Loudoun Hospital Birthing Inn has received the IBCLC Care Award in recognition for staffing professionals who hold the prestigious International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® certification (IBCLC®) and providing a lactation program that is available 5 – 7 days a week for breastfeeding families.  Inova Loudoun provides lactation services 7 days a week.  In addition, the Inova Loudoun Hospital demonstrated that is has provided recent breastfeeding training for medical staff that care for new families, and have recently completed activities that help protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.

IBLCE certificants focus on preventive care, so they are available during pregnancy to assess the mother and provide information on how to successfully initiate breastfeeding. They continue that assistance after the baby is born by helping mothers overcome breastfeeding challenges, providing accurate information, and continuing to support them as their baby grows. They assist mothers returning to work or school, help mothers in more unusual situations such as breastfeeding more than one baby or nursing a sick or premature infant, and help train nursing staff to manage basic breastfeeding care.

“We enjoy helping mothers get off to a great start with breastfeeding. This award assures our patients that they’re receiving quality care,” commented Tracy Cross, RN, IBCLC, RLC, Nurse Manager Lactation, Inova Loudoun Hospital Birthing Inn.

Media Contact: Reneé Brohard, APR, 540-454-3493

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Inova Loudoun Hospital, serving Loudoun County for over 100 years, is part of Inova, a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Visit us on the web at www.inova.org/ilh. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InovaLoudounHospital.