'They Took Such Good Care Of Us.'

NORTH BAY, CA—Right outside the birth center at the Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center is a magnolia tree with lovely blooms. Inside the hospital something else beautiful was blooming: the start of a new life.

Napa resident and Kaiser Permanente member Rachel Farah Miers says despite the blooming tree outside, it’s just a coincidence that Magnolia is her daughter’s name. But, she said, it’s the great care she received during her September 2024 delivery that truly made her daughter’s birth special.

“I went in for an induction. I was there a total of three days and interacted with a lot of people. They [all] took such good care of us,” Miers said. “We really felt like we were at a hotel. Everyone has a smile on their face - from the front desk to the housekeeping team to the nurses and doctors. It was just amazing. It exceeded all our expectations.”

Midwife Amber Knoche, CNM, cared for Miers through her prenatal appointments at the Napa Medical Offices, and then ended up delivering Magnolia when it was time.

“[Amber’s] a rock star. I felt 150% confident and comfortable with her at my labor. It seemed like I was pushing for a few hours. But she was coaching me, and the baby was delivered super healthy.”

Hearing how their work made a difference in a patient’s life is rewarding for Kaiser Permanente staff, said Juanita Jularbal-Walton, RN, Chief Nurse Executive, Kaiser Permanente Vallejo

“Delivering a baby is one of the major milestones in a family’s life. I love hearing the stories about how the staff serve our laboring moms with compassion and kindness,” Jularbal-Walton said. “It is so important to me that every member who comes to Vallejo Labor and Delivery receives the highest quality of care as well as the most compassionate, exceptional care experience from all caregivers in the department.”

Miers works for Visit Napa Valley, which promotes all that the region has to offer, and feels having Kaiser Permanente in the community is part of the value of living in Napa.

“It's a small town with big city amenities and amazing cultural events, etc. The quality of life is so high. And I would say that having a full-service hospital is part of that suite of services that makes it such a great community to live in. So, it's really an asset.”

Last year, 1,252 babies were delivered at Kaiser Permanente Vallejo.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are recognized as among the best in the United States for providing exceptional maternity care to parents and their newborns, according to Newsweek magazine’s list of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2024.

Vallejo Medical Center was among 13 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals that received the prestigious recognition.

Hearing glowing feedback about patient experiences, like Miers', is a point of pride for Ashton Evans, the clinical services director for Maternal Child Health at Vallejo and reenforces the quality care the team aims to provide.

“Kaiser Permanente’s maternity care is exceptional because of our comprehensive, patient-centered approach, designed to meet the unique needs of each family. Our multidisciplinary team works collaboratively to ensure the best outcomes for our patients, “said Evans. “Additionally, the genuine compassion and dedication of our staff creates a warm and supportive environment that truly makes a difference in the lives of our patients.”

Miers said she hopes to thank her care team in person one day and introduce them to Magnolia. But, in the meantime, she wants to make sure the whole team knows how much she appreciated the great care she received. She also wants to take Magnolia’s photo in front of the tree.