West Virginia Perinatal Partnership

Committee on the Economic Impact of Poor Outcomes

Chair
--Robert Nerhood, MD,  Chair, Dept. of OB-Gyn, Marshall University, Huntington

Members
--Janet Graeber, MD, Associate Professor and Director of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, WVU SOM, Morgantown
--Stefan Maxwell, MD, Chief of Pediatrics and Director of Neonatal Intensive Care Services, CAMC - Women and Children’s Hospital, Charleston
--Sandy Young, RN, Nurse Director, Women and Children’s Services, Thomas Hospital, Charleston
--Ann Dacey, RN, WVU School of Medicine, Morgantown
--Kat Ambler, CNM, CAMC, Women's and Children's Hospital, Charleston
--David Chafin, MD, Professor and Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Dept of OB/GYN, MU, Huntington

Advisors
-- John Eckhart, Health Care Data Analyst; WV Health Care Authority
--Robin Ryder, Health Care Data Analyst; WV Health Care Authority
--Linda Sovine, MPH, FACHE, Director of Data Analysis, WV Health Care Authority
--Jennings Starcher, Health Care Data Analyst; WV Health Care Authority

Staff
--Nancy Tolliver, RN, MSIR
--Calvin Kent, PhD, Vice President - Center for Business and Economic Research, Marshall University
--Kent Sowards, PhD, Director, Data and Survey Services, Center for Business and Economic Research, Marshall University  

Volunteer to serve on this Committee

Quality Perinatal Care with Cost Containment

It may seem counterintuitive to some, but better perinatal care costs less than poor perinatal care.  Studies suggest that if policies are implemented to improve perinatal outcomes, West Virginia society's "bill" will be lower.  A discussion of the economic impact of poor outcomes and ways to address them in West Virginia are discussed in both the Blueprint to Improve Perinatal Health in West Virginia (2006) and the Reports on the Blueprint (2007).

Articles of Interest

MORE C-SECTIONS; MORE COMPLICATIONS: A new study shows a rise in maternal obstetrical complications mirrors rise in c-sections.  C-sections at 37-38 weeks gestation show double the rate of risk to newborns. Read the article in the Dominion Post.