Transport
Early
recognition and transfer of high-risk pregnant women and sick newborns to
facilities with adequate diagnosis and treatment expertise is essential to
reduce neonatal mortality rates. When West Virginia perinatal providers
were surveyed, they called for a more coordinated, statewide approach to
ensuring that appropriate maternal and infant transport is available around
the clock. The transport committee has made and is in the process of
implementing these and related goals. The committee's 2007 discussion of the
issue of perinatal transport and recommendations for improvement are found
on page 13 of the
Reports on the Blueprint to Improve Perinatal Health Care (2007).
Or just the
recommendations of the transport committee in 2007 can be downloaded.
Transport Guidelines and How to Arrange Transports for High-Risk Mothers and Babies
At the 2008 Perinatal Transport Summit, nurse managers from around West Virginia requested a consistent set of transport guidelines from the three tertiary care centers. The following guidelines were developed by the Perinatal Partnership Transport Guidelines Committee.
- Immediate Care and Transport of the Sick Newborn in West Virginia
- Immediate Care and Transport of the High-Risk Mother in West Virginia
Health Care Providers: Your feedback is welcomed! Address your comments to Ann Dacey, RN
W. Va. NICU/Maternal Bed-Availability Hotline Planned
Perinatal
providers have long seen a need for easy-to-get, current information about
bed availability in West Virginia NICU and maternal high-risk units. Plans
are underway to satisfy that need.
The West Virginia Perinatal Partnership is collaborating with the West Virginia State Trauma and Emergency Medical System to make a hotline available that perinatal providers can call to get current information, thereby saving precious time if the provider's usual referral center is not accepting transports. Callers to the hotline can not only find a bed but also be connected immediately with a specialist at the referral center for immediate consultation. The target date for activating the hotline is July 31, 2010.
As soon as the hotline is available, the number will be posted here.