New Women’s and Children’s Services leaders take the helm at Harris Regional Hospital

SYLVA, NC – Harris Regional Hospital announces the appointment of two new leaders in women’s and children’s services: Savannah Hicks Baylon, MSN, RN, and Emily Ray, RN, RNC-OB, RNC-CCE.

Savannah Hicks Baylon, MSN, RN (pictured R) has been appointed director of the women’s and children’s services at Harris Regional Hospital, bringing a wealth of experience in labor, delivery and mother/baby services, bedside nursing, nursing supervision, case management, and utilization review to the role. Prior to completing her Master of Science in Nursing degree, Baylon worked as a registered nurse in the New Generations Family Birthing Center, the birthing unit at Harris Regional Hospital, for several years, gaining immense experience and realizing her true passion for nursing care.

“I am thrilled and proud to be able to lead our wonderful, skilled team in providing outstanding care to women and children in our region,” said Baylon. “Our local hospital maintains a legacy of delivering high-quality, compassionate care to women and babies, and it is an honor to continue that legacy and ensure that we continue to be the trusted leader for women’s and children’s services in western North Carolina.”

Baylon and her family are residents of Jackson County. As an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Baylon brings additional insight into providing culturally competent care for all patients.

“We are very privileged to have Savannah assume this leadership role,” said Stephen Plemmons, MSN, RN, Senior Nursing Officer at Harris. “Not only does she bring an immense amount of knowledge and expertise, but also a love and dedication to her community, which is invaluable to providing excellent nursing care.”

Manager Emily Ray, RN, RNC-OB, RNC-CCE (pictured L) began her career at Harris Regional, working as a Certified Nursing Assistant in her high school years and throughout nursing school. After obtaining her registered nurse degree, Ray remained at Harris and has worked in the New Generations Family Birthing Center since 2012. She credits Harris Regional Hospital with helping mold her both personally and professionally by demonstrating outstanding care and commitment to patients. Ray is a Certified Childbirth Educator and has received National Certification in Inpatient Obstetrics and brings a passion for quality and education to her role, instructing many of the childbirth education classes held on the Harris campus for new parents.

Harris Regional Hospital leads western North Carolina in labor and delivery care, delivering the highest number of babies west of Asheville, averaging 600 babies annually. The labor and delivery unit, more commonly known as the New Generations Family Birthing Center, underwent a $5.5 million renovation in the 2010s that included a new labor and delivery unit, updated patient rooms and nursing stations, and the addition of an operating room for Caesarean-section deliveries. Additionally, the department instituted heightened security measures, including an advanced alarm system, locked delivery unit, and specially developed ID bracelet system, to ensure the utmost safety for all families.

The New Generations Family Birthing Center at Harris Regional Hospital offers a Level II Special Care Nursery specializing in the care of ill or premature newborns. The nursery is staffed by board-certified neonatologist Dr. Bernd Holler and nurses and other medical professionals who are trained in life-saving care of newborns. Family education and support, specialty diagnostic equipment, and advanced technology is available to care for the following types of newborn patients:

• Infants born prematurely at 32 weeks or later;
• Infants who may be under-developed;
• Infants who are experiencing resolvable illness;
• Infants who are convalescing after intensive care;
• Infants needing mechanical ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure, or both; 
• Infants born before 32 weeks needing stabilization prior to transferring to a neonatal intensive care unit.

In 2022, Harris Regional Hospital was named to Money Magazine and The Leapfrog Group’s inaugural list of Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. Out of more than 2,200 hospitals surveyed, Harris was one of 259 hospitals nationwide, and one of 30 in North Carolina, to earn the first-time honor.

“We are confident that the addition of both Savannah and Emily to their leadership roles will further our mission of making communities healthier by providing outstanding care to women and children,” said Ashley Hindman, CEO of Harris Regional and Swain Community Hospitals. “It is our honor for individuals in the region to trust us with this type of care, and having excellent, qualified leaders is a demonstration of our commitment to maintaining that trust.”

For more information about the New Generations Family Birthing Center, visit MyHarrisRegional.com. To make an appointment for women’s care or pediatric care, call 844.414.DOCS (3627).