STPH Reducing Premature Births

MARCH OF DIMES, LOUISIANA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZE STPH
FOR IMPROVING BIRTH OUTCOMES, REDUCING PREMATURE BIRTHS

COVINGTON – The March of Dimes recognized St. Tammany Parish Hospital for reducing the number of early elective deliveries and cesarean births performed before 39 weeks of pregnancy.

After reviewing the number of early elective deliveries at STPH, the hospital dedicated a scheduler to ensure delivery criteria is met, educated staff and physicians on the change created evidence-based policies.

Beginning in the third quarter of 2012, STPH implemented a “hard stop” for the scheduling of non-medically indicated deliveries before 39 weeks. Every patient is screened for gestational age and any medical reason to be induced early.

The initiative helped decrease the amount of elective early term deliveries to less than 5 percent. This is a 64 percent improvement from previous results prior to implementation of the “hard stop.” Additionally, STPH has eliminated neonatal transfers to a higher level of care.

“Infants born before 39 weeks gestation are proven to have an increased risk for respiratory and non-respiratory complications,” said Diana Brovold RN MSN, director of Women and Children’s Services at STPH. “By implementing changes to our delivery criteria, we were able to decrease the number of non-medically indicated deliveries therefore, decreasing the number of neonatal transfers to a higher level of care, therefore improving our birth outcomes.”

Frankie Robertson, March of Dimes State Director-Louisiana, and Katherine Olivard, March of Dimes Division Director-New Orleans area, along with Ken Alexander, Louisiana Hospital Association vice president, presented representatives from the hospital’s New Family Center with a banner to commemorate the achievement.

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A full-service acute care facility committed to providing world-class healthcare and the latest technology, St. Tammany Parish Hospital delivers today’s life-improving procedures with the utmost care to area residents with emphasis on wellness, preventive care and disease management close to home. STPH is a self-supporting not-for-profit community hospital; it receives no tax funding. STPH.org

PHOTO IDENTIFICATION

From left: Nicole Norris, STPH NICU and Pediatrics department head; Sharon Moore, STPH New Family center Clinical Coordinator; Katherine Olivard, March of Dimes Division Director-New Orleans area; Frankie Robertson, March of Dimes State Director-Louisiana; Sandra DiPietro, STPH Chief Financial Officer; Becky Patton, STPH Labor and Delivery department head; Kerry Milton, STPH Chief Nursing Officer;  Diana Brovold; STPH Women and Children’s Services director; Ken Alexander, Louisiana Hospital Association Vice President; and Patti Ellish, STPH President and CEO.