West Virginia Perinatal Partnership

Central Advisory Council Subcommittee on Guidelines and Recommendations for Perinatal Care

COMMITTEE REPORT

Obstetric Care Committee

Chair
--Luis Bracero, MD, Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine, CAMC

Members
--Michael Stitely, WVU OB/Gyn, WVU Morgantown
--Peggy Knight, OB Nurse Manager, Davis Memorial Hospital
--David Baltierra, MD, WVU School of Medicine, Eastern Division
--Marlene Merkel, OB Nurse Manager, WVU Hospitals, Morgantown
--Kat Ambler, CNM, CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital
--Kathy Quillen, OB Nurse Manager Cabell Huntington Hospital
--Nancy Burke, Director of Women’s Services, Wheeling Hospital
--Stephen Bush, Chair of OB/Gyn, CAMC
Robert Nerhood, MD Chair of OB/Gyn, Marshall
--Brenda Dawley, OB/Gyn and Chair-elect of WV ACOG
--Kathy Imes, RNC, Nurse Manager Cabell Huntington Hospital
--David Chaffin, MD, Director Maternal Fetal Medicine, Marshall University
--Chris Powell, Nurse Manager, Wheeling Hospital
--Fran O’Brien, RN, Nurse Manager, Greenbrier Valley Medical Center
--Jann Foley, CNM, MSN, Women's Health Care of Morgantown, providing care at Monongalia General Hospital
--Sheryl Sergent, RNC, OB Nurse Manager, Roane General Hospital
--Cynthia Marsh, RN Assistant Nurse Manager, Davis Memorial Hospital
--Patricia Moore, RN, MSN, Fairmont General Hospital
--Melanie Riley, OB Nurse Manager, WVU East City Hospital Committee

Staff
--Ann Dacey, RN, Nurse Coordinator, WV Perinatal Partnership

Neonatal Care Committee

Chair
--Janet Graeber, MD, Director of Neonatology, WVU Morgantown

Members
--Stefan Maxwell, MD, Neonatologist CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital
--Renee Domanico, MD, Neonatologist, Cabell Huntington Hospital
--Nancy Marcus, Nurse Manager, NICU CAMC Women’s and Children’s Hospital
--Lori Blackburn, Nurse Manager, NICU, Cabell Huntington Hospital
--Judi Polak, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, WVU Children’s Hospital
--Teresa Frazer, MD, Pediatrician from Bluefield
--Jann Stewart, Clinical Preceptor, NICU, WVU Hospitals
--Judy Romano, MD, Wheeling Pediatrician
--Traci Daugherty, Clinical Coordinator - Nursery WVUH East City Hospital
--Debbie Menders, Neonatal Transport Nurse, CAMC
--Maureen Kenny-Palmera, Nurse Manager, NICU, WVU Hospitals
--Babs Nightengale, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Mother/Baby Unit, WVU Children’s Hospital

Staff
--Ann Dacey, RN, Nurse Coordinator, WV Perinatal Partnership

Hospital Guidelines and Levels of Care Self-Assessment Initiative

Background

The 2006 the West Virginia Perinatal Wellness Study surveyed perinatal providers throughout West Virginia. Providers who answered the surveys strongly recommended a more organized, statewide system of perinatal care. Many also stated that standards of care were inconsistent throughout the state. To address these and other concerns, the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership (WVPP) was formed with representatives from throughout out the state in every level of care.

About the Hospital Self-Assessment Initiative

The partnership has recommended guidelines for levels of hospital care based on recommendations released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) and the American College of Nurse-midwives (ACNM). These guidelines were adapted for West Virginia Hospitals by the Perinatal Partnership's Guidelines for Perinatal Care Committee. The guidelines were then sent for feedback to nurse managers at every hospital with perinatal services in West Virginia.

Hospital Self-Assessment Checklists

The guideline committee developed Hospital Self-Assessment Checklists based on the guidelines it recommended. They were presented and discussed at the 2008 Perinatal Summit. They were also sent to nurse-managers of every obstetric facility in the state for feedback.

In 2009 the WV Perinatal Partnership asked all hospitals that provide perinatal care services to complete a level of care self-assessment. Through the self-assessment, hospitals were given the opportunity to self-identify what level of perinatal service they provide.

Goals

The goals of this initiative are to:

1. Establish a consistent set of minimum expectations for each level of perinatal services.
2. Enable each institution to provide consumers with a consistent level and quality of perinatal services.
3. Recognize and honor the capabilities, commitment and resources of institutions that are beyond the minimum expectation for their level of perinatal services.

Award Process

All hospitals that voluntarily agreed to participate in any part of this process were publicly recognized with certificates of participation at the annual perinatal summit in November of 2009. In addition, press releases were made and pictures of the award ceremony were posted on this website.

Hospitals wishing for an official designation by the Perinatal Partnership are currently being visited by a Perinatal Review Team of obstetric and neonatal specialists appointed by the Perinatal Partnership. These visits include a review of facilities and required policies.

Self-Assessment Results

Hospitals that have completed the self-assessment process and their levels of care
All Hospitals that participated in self-assessment

Ongoing Process

Any hospital wishing to participate in self-assessment may do so at any time by completing the forms below and sending them to the WV Perinatal Partnership.

The Hospital Self-Assessment guidelines and checklists will be updated every five years, and the self assessment initiative will be repeated.

Self-Assessment Materials        

• Summary of the Three Levels of Hospital Perinatal Care (PDF) (MS Word)
• Instructions for Hospital Self-Assessment (PDF) ( MS Word)
• Hospital Participation Form (PDF) (MS Word)
• Hospital Self-Assessment Checklists:
• Minimum Criteria for Level I Perinatal Facilities, Programs and Services (PDF) (MS Word) (10/06/09)
• Minimum Criteria for Level II Perinatal Facilities, Programs and Services (PDF) (MS Word) (10/06/09)
• Minimum Criteria for Level III Perinatal Facilities, Programs and Services (PDF) (MS Word) (10/06/09)
• Appendix I Worksheet -- Recommended Registered Nurse/Patient Ratio for Perinatal Care Services (PDF) (MS Word)