Why does Sibely have semi-private rooms?

[Anonymous]

I gave birth at Sibely last year and remember being very stressed out about whether I could get a private post-partum room or not (I did - supposedly the last one). I know many people share that anxiety judging from posts here as well as the many questions raised on this topic during the childcare class there. So I am wondering why don't they just get rid of the unpopular semi-private rooms and make them all private rooms like some area hospitals? We are planning our second child and I am wondering whether I should stick with Sibley, where everything was great exxcept for the "will I get the private room???" worries, or switch to somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

They need the space, they often use both beds in the double rooms. The day I delivered they were so packed that they had to send laboring women to Gtown.

[Anonymous]

They need the space and some people don't want to pay extra. Don't assume everyone would/could pay for a private room. To pp's point, I spent my first night in the L&D suite because there were no beds left!

[Anonymous]

We recently went to our labor and birth prep class and were told that Sibley would be undergoing construction sometime in the spring to add new rooms - all private rooms - and get rid of the shared rooms. We didn't get precise timing or details about what they would do during the construction, but it's a positive move, at least. I'll be there early April so I'm crossing my fingers for no construction noise and a private room!

[Anonymous]

OP here - so glad and relieved to hear about this construction! Thanks for sharing. Does anybody have any details? As for the PP who mentioned that not everybody would/could pay for a private room, if all rooms are private, then the insurance should cover it (since there would no longer be the semi-private option available) so it should be better for all.

[Anonymous]

I share your concern. Even if you're only there for a couple of nights this is exactly the time that you want your privacy and want to be able to have your hubby/partner there with you, at all times if you wish.
I was unpleasantly surprised to see that the semi-private rooms are so very small! It barely fits to beds and two cribs!
I will not be changing to another hospital though because I'm really happy with my OB. I'll just be hoping for either a semi-private without a roomy or get the private them I am more than willing to pay the extra charge ($200 per night) for.

[Anonymous]

One of the many reasons I switched to GW.

[cmkeough]

I'm sure Sibley enjoys getting the additional $200 a night they charge for having the private rooms, not certain if they could charge the additional $$ to insurance companies if all the rooms were private. I delivered at Sibley almost 7 weeks ago and was lucky to get a private room. Glad to have it but to be honest with you it wasn't terribly nice. Thinking about delivering at VA Hospital Center the next time, all rooms are private there and it's a much nicer hospital.

[dgahagan]

Even though we did pay the $200 extra for 4 nights at Sibley for a private room, and the room was NOT that nice, I loved the nursing staff at Sibley. They were compassionate and not intrusive, and if I needed something, I didn't wait. My DH stayed the entire time and was given free meals from the cart. I know the rooms were outdated and small, but I was more concerned about the staff and care of my son. My dh was not about to stay with me at night and have a semi-private room-he surprised me when I finally woke up after having our DS with a private room.

[Anonymous]

I did not pay the extra $ for a private room - I stayed 4 nights, and couldn't justify that amount of money. Luckily for me, one person came to my room the second night, and then got her own room in the morning. I had the whole room to myself for all but those 10 hours or so.

[Anonymous]

If all rooms were private, they could not charge for private! I delivered my first at a hospital with all private rooms, and since there was no option of shared, there was no charge.

I had one of the dreaded shared rooms at Sibley. It was worth every penny (to me) to switch when a room became available.

[Anonymous]

The trend among hospitals is go to all private (across the board, not just in maternity), both because patients prefer private rooms and because they are much safer in terms of infection control, patient falls, medication errors, etc. So pretty much all new hospital construction (like the maternity project at Sibley) involves private rooms; virtually no hospitals are building new shared rooms. While I'm sure Sibley is happy to generate a little extra income from the private rooms (income that by no means makes up for the loss they take on maternity care -- maternity services are not money-makers), that's not why they have them. They're simply a legacy of an older hospital where demand for maternity services is extremely high.

I've delivered at Sibley twice and couldn't get a private room the first night my first time; it was packed, and I was in a cramped semi-private with a c-section patient whose infusion pump was malfunctioning, beeping all night. The nurses were harried. It was a pretty miserable night. I got a private room the second night, and it was like night and day. My second time (a few weeks ago), it was relatively slow, and I don't think anyone was doubled up. Had a private room both nights and had a good experience. Others have commented that Sibley's private rooms aren't "nice," but I had no complaints. Clean, private bathroom, big windows.

[[e-mail]]

I'm giving birth at Sibley tomorrow and am rolling the dice. I am going to try a semi mainly because I can find other things to do with $200/night x 4 nights (c-section). I figured if it gets really uncomfortable, I will ask about a private room. I just hate paying hospitals money they should not be charging to begin with. Sibley doesn't have to charge $200/night. They could make it more reasonable! Anyway, I'll write again to let you all know how my gamble went!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like I might have been your roommate. The five-year-old was annoying me too, and I couldn't believe her parents thought it was appropriate to bring her along. Sorry!

[Anonymous]

If you can't splurge after having a baby-when can you??? We paid for a private room for 4 nights and loved every minute of it. My dh and I were so happy, and he was able to stay the entire time we weret there. Worth every penny! (I think he said he paid $700 something).