West Virginia Perinatal Partnership

Central Advisory Council Subcommittee on a Universal Prenatal Risk-Screening Tool

Chair
--Pat Moore Moss, MSW, LCSW, Director, Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health Committee

Members
--Allan Chamberlain, M.D.
--Ted Cheatham, Director, PEIA
--Dan Christy, MPA, Director, Health Statistics Center
--Jeannie Clark, RN, Director, Right From the Start
--Liz Cohen, M.S.W., WVU Department of OB/Gyn
--Brenda Dawley, MD, ACOG Chair, Elect/Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
--Pam Jones, Blue Cross Blue Shield
--Beverly Kitchen, RN, CAMC, Right From the Start
--Tom Light, Programmer, Health Statistics Center
--Patty Perdue, Partners in Community Outreach
--Mark Polak, MD, Neonatologist, WVU Children’s Hospital
--Robert Pulliam, MD, Access Health
--Stephanie Shabandy, RN, Insurance Commission Committee

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

Volunteer to serve on this Committee

Risk Assessment

Comprehensive risk assessment enables the prenatal care provider to determine whether the woman or the fetus is at increased risk and provides the basis for further assessment and intervention. Risk factors are characteristics that indicate a higher probability of adverse outcome and help guide the action by the woman, social supports, and the medical provider.

One of the recommendations arising out of the Blueprint to Improve West Virginia Perinatal Health in 2006 was to identify a maternal risk scoring instrument to be used universally by all obstetrical medical providers and all payers.  A fuller description of the challenge and recommendations for meeting it are contained in the Reports on the Blueprint to Improve Perinatal Health in West Virginia (2008).  The Partnership is working to achieve those recommendations.

Maternal Risk Screening Act Becomes Law

Senate Bill 307, “Uniform Maternal Screening Act” was signed into law on May 28, 2009 by West Virginia  Governor Manchin. The Office of Maternal, Child & Family Health, Division of Perinatal & Women's Health is preparing for development of the Advisory Council called for in the law.  The office is designing a maternal risk screening tool and is preparing to collect and analyze data that the uniform use of this tool will generate.  Read more.

October 13, 2009 -- Maternal Risk Screening Advisory Committee:

The Uniform Maternal Screening Act (Senate Bill 307, signed into law 5/29/09) provided a more comprehensive and uniform approach to maternal risk screening by requiring development and use of a standardized tool to alert OB providers of the need for further evaluation and assessment of high-risk pregnant women. The bill established an Advisory Council on maternal risk assessment within the Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health.

Selection and appointment of the initial Maternal Risk Screening Advisory Council is complete.  The following individuals have agreed to participate in the Council: 

• David Butler, DO, WV School of Osteopathic Medicine designee (medical school representative)
• Kimberly Farry, MD, Associates for Women’s Health (public/private maternity provider representative);
• Michael Stitely, MD, WVU School of Medicine (medical school representative);
• Michael Lassere, MD, Summersville Women’s Health (public/private maternity provider representative);
• Victoria Shuman, DO, Family Medicine of Clarksburg (public/private maternity provider representative);
• Phyllis Bradley, RN, MS-HCA, Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital designee (additional stakeholders);
• Tina Williams, United Hospital Center designee (additional stakeholders);
• Steve Dexter, CEO, Thomas Memorial Hospital (additional stakeholders);
• Lyn Haley, CNM, Chair, WV Chapter, American College of Nurse Midwives (public/private maternity provider representative);
• Robert Nerhood, MD, Chair, Marshall University School of Medicine (medical school representative);
• Luis Bracero, MD, Chair, CAMC Department of Pediatrics designee (tertiary care facility representative);
• Chris Curtis, Commissioner, WV Bureau for Public Health; and
• Pat Moss, Director, Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health.

The composition of this committee meets the membership requirements established in the legislation. Scheduling logistics for the initial meeting are in process. A December 2009 meeting is planned.