Sevier News Messenger Sevier County News and Opinion
The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program has recognized LeConte Medical Center for its commitment to leadership for best practices and education on infant safe sleep. The program was created by Cribs for Kids®, a Pittsburgh-based organization dedicated to preventing infant, sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation.
“Sleep-related death results in the loss of over 3500 infants every year in the United States,” comments Michael H. Goodstein, MD, FAAP, Neonatologist, Medical Director/Research, Cribs for Kids, director of York County Cribs for Kids Program. “We know that consistent education can have a profound effect on infant mortality, and this program is designed to encourage safe sleep education and recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these unnecessary deaths.”
The new National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program has three levels of safe sleep excellence: Bronze Certified Safe Sleep Hospital, Silver Certified Safe Sleep Leader, and Gold Certified Safe Sleep Champion. The Dolly Parton Birthing Unit at LeConte Medical Center achieved the Bronze Certified Safe Sleep Hospital recognition. The nursing staff at LeConte Medical Center provides educational materials to all parents of newborns in their Birthing Unit teaching about safe sleep habits. The staff is also presents each newborn in the Birthing Unit with a Halo® SleepSackSwaddle Wrap (the original wearable blanket with adjustable swaddle wrap), made possible through the generosity of the Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation.
LeConte Medical Center president and chief administrative officer Jenny Hanson presents Pam King, RN, manager of the Dolly Parton Birthing Unit with their Bronze Certified Safe Sleep Hospital certificate.
“The staff at LeConte Medical Center has always been committed to safe sleep education for parents of newborns, and we make every effort to educate the parents while in the hospital,” states Pam King, RN, manager of the Dolly Parton Birthing Unit at LeConte Medical Center. “We’re very thankful for this recognition of the steps that our department is taking to help promote safe sleep in our community.”
For more information on the Cribs for Kids National Safe Sleep Hospital Initiative visit www.cribsforkids.org/hospitalcertification.
The Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created in partnership with leading infant health and safety organizations such as the National Center for the Review & Prevention of Child Deaths, Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs, Kids In Danger, Children’s Safety Network, American SIDS Institute, Charlie’s Kids and numerous state American Academy of Pediatric chapters and health departments.
According to Judith A. Bannon, Executive Director/Founder Cribs for Kids, “The program which kicked off regionally already has early adopters. Nine states are represented among the certified hospitals, and the entire state of Delaware has 100% hospital participation.”
