Labor and Delivery clinicians at Roper St. Francis Healthcare are dedicated to delivering exceptional outcomes for mothers and babies, and that commitment was on full display at a recent hands-on simulation training.
The South Carolina Birth Outcomes Initiative (BOI) and Prisma Health’s SimCOACH, a mobile simulation unit designed to mirror real labor and delivery emergencies, made a stop in the Summerville area to provide hands-on training for nurses and providers at Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital and Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital. Aimed at clinicians in obstetrics (OB), mother-baby units and special care nurseries, the training is part of a statewide effort to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality through targeted, evidence-based simulation.
For Mary Mitchell, a clinical nurse specialist at Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital, this work is urgent and personal.
“Maternal morbidity and mortality have been on the rise here in South Carolina and across the U.S.,” Mitchell said. “This session is so important because it gives our team a safe environment to work through real scenarios like hypertension, shoulder dystocia, neonatal resuscitation, hemorrhage — things we see and need to act on quickly and precisely.”
Launched in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the BOI program aims to improve health outcomes for mothers and infants through a 2 percent reduction in unnecessary cesarean births and stronger interdisciplinary coordination during emergencies. Through these mobile trainings, providers are immersed in high-stakes situations that reflect the realities of OB care, making the unexpected feel more manageable.
Advanced training for nurses in women, infants and children (WIC) is part of Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s commitment to investing in its teammates, recruiting new talent and addressing the clinical needs of the future — key components of the organization’s 2030 Strategic Plan. The healthcare system offers high-quality Labor and Delivery services at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital and Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital, which continues to care for women and their babies as construction is underway for a larger and modern Labor and Delivery space, which is on track for opening in spring 2026.
For the nurses on the frontlines, the value of this training isn’t just about protocols and outcomes. It’s also about presence.
Brittany Potts, a clinical nurse specialist at Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital and longtime labor and delivery nurse, said the emotional weight of the job never leaves her.
“I personally chose OB because I love being with labor patients in those really vulnerable moments,” Potts said. “It’s a different kind of nursing. It’s fulfilling. It’s impactful – for them and for us.”
That impact extends to how Roper St. Francis Healthcare teams show up for every delivery — medically and emotionally.
“We’re not just teammates, we’re best friends and sisters,” Potts said. “That culture, that bond we have, you feel it in the care. We’re grateful to be part of each family’s story.”
The SimCOACH sessions don’t just sharpen clinical skills; they also reinforce how critical it is for nurses, physicians and support staff to function as a unit under pressure. That kind of trust and teamwork doesn’t happen by accident; it’s cultivated by a shared mission of healing all people with compassion, faith and excellence.
“This training included OB providers, neonatology, nurses and even ancillary staff,” Mitchell said. “It’s interdisciplinary. Everyone practices different roles, learns how to communicate better and ultimately how to deliver safe, high-quality care together.”
At Roper St. Francis Healthcare, delivering babies is about more than arrival; it’s about the experience, safety and deep trust built between families and their care teams. Events like this SimCOACH training align with an OB program that’s focused on compassionate nursing, personalized birthing experiences and trusted expertise.
For the expectant mothers who choose Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital or Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, the benefits of that mission are quiet but profound.
“When you’re in labor, things can change quickly,” Potts said. “Knowing your team is prepared medically and emotionally makes all the difference.”
From the outside, a training bus might look like a high-tech classroom on wheels. But for the nurses inside, it’s a space where lifesaving skills are built, confidence is reinforced and the heart of OB care is honored.
“Every mom deserves to be cared for by a team that is ready for anything,” Mitchell said. “That’s what today is about.”