West Virginia Perinatal Partnership

News and Events

2008 W.VA. PERINATAL SUMMIT SCHEDULED IN NOVEMBER -- SAVE THE DATE
When:  11/12-13/2008
Where: CAMC - Memorial Division- Robert C Byrd Building, Charleston, WV
What: Dr. Curtis Lowery, Alabama ANGLES Program Director:  MEU and CEU's available:  Medical Guidelines for OB and Newborn; Transport Guidelines; Medical Guidelines to ID Drug Use During Pregnancy; Breastfeeding Progress in WV; Fighting Tobacco Use During Pregnancy; White Paper on Teen Pregnancy;  Medicaid FP Waiver Policy Initiative;  Midwifery and Rural Maternity Services.

WORKSITE WELLNESS DINNER AND DISCUSSION OCTOBER 16, 2008.
Download the flyer.

DEADLINE FOR MARCH OF DIMES GRANTS APPROACHING
The March of Dimes West Virginia Chapter community grants program's deadline for RFPs is November 1, 2008. Download more info.

TRANSPORT COMMITTEE SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
Join other enthusiastic volunteers in developing a seamless system of consultation, transport, and referral for W. Va.  We have five committees addressing the following issues:

• Single Call System for maternal and neonatal transports;
• Perinatal education and guideline development for this website;
• Reverse Transport Guidelines for infant care in Level II hospitals;
• Interstate Transport Relations with hospitals in border states; and
• Administrative and Reimbursement Issues including Funding for Perinatal Transport and Outreach Education.

Volunteer Form

Mission

We are a statewide partnership of health care professionals and public and private organizations working to improve perinatal health in West Virginia.

• --We want health care providers to have the latest knowledge and expertise about caring for pregnant women and their babies.
• --We encourage new laws that promote better health for pregnant women and their babies.
• --We create opportunities for perinatal professionals to share their expertise with each other.
• --We spread the latest knowledge about perinatal health through educational programs.
• --We encourage efforts that reduce tobacco and drug use among pregnant women and foster oral health care in pregnant women and infants.
• --We maintain up-to-date knowledge of research and trends in maternal/child health and a create mechanisms to distribute that information to the public and health professionals.

GET INVOLVED Read more about us and our accomplishments so farRead Our 2008 Workplan (PDF)

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Blueprint to Improve Perinatal Health

In 2006, thirty-three organizations partnered to uncover reasons for declining healthy birth outcomes in West Virginia and find solutions.  Over 200 perinatal professionals participated in a Key Informant Survey and 90 contributed in drafting the results of that study and recommendations: Blueprint to Improve West Virginia Perinatal Health (2006).  Then after a year's worth of focused effort, the Partnership reported on progress implementing the Blueprint and published Reports on the Blueprint to Improve West Virginia Perinatal Health (2007).

West Virginia health care professionals voiced a strong desire to participate in the process to improve perinatal care.  They indicated that although many elements of a cohesive system are present in the State, we must move towards a statewide system rather than a fractured regional approach. We need to utilize new methods of communication, provide better support for medical professionals in rural areas, better utilize our intellectual resources, and more fully implement parent support and education programs.  The West Virginia Perinatal Partnership was born of these desires.

Read the 2006 Blueprint(PDF)Read the 2007 Reports on the Blueprint (PDF) Read the Appendices to the Reports