Stumping Out Prenatal Smoking in West Virginia

from NICHQ (National Institute for Children's Health Quality) website | Read original article here Not only does smoking make it harder for a woman to conceive, tobacco use during pregnancy increases the rate of stillbirth, preterm birth, birth defects, low birth weight and infant mortality. Despite this information, some states have consistently high rates of women who smoke while pregnant. ... Read More

DHHR Press Release – Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Data Released

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 11, 2018 DHHR Releases Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Data for 2017 CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) today released county-level Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) data for 2017 showing the overall incidence rate of NAS was 50.6 cases per 1,000 live births (5.06%) for West Virginia residents. NAS is a withdrawal ... Read More

The Formaldehyde in Your E-Cigs

April 4, 2018 - By Joseph G. Allen (See the original story with the New York Times) Dr. Allen is an assistant professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. A vaping store and lounge in Manhattan.CreditMichael Appleton for The New York Times Recently, there has been a shift away from calling e-cigarettes “e-cigs.” In public health circles, ... Read More

West Virginia joins worldwide initiative to decrease maternal hemorrhaging deaths

In response to reports of rising maternal mortality rates across the country, the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership (WVPP) and other organizations across the state are joining with the Alliance for the Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) and taking action. Along with the WVPP, the West Virginia Hospital Association, the West Virginia Chapter of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the ... Read More

DHHR Receives CMS approval for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Treatment Services

2/13/2018 | (See the original story) The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Bureau for Medical Services has received approval from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) treatment services. This designation makes West Virginia the first state in the nation to receive such approval. NAS is a generalized ... Read More

Say YES To Safe Sleep For Babies Annual Competency Training – Save the Date

Save the Date Say YES To Safe Sleep For Babies Annual Competency Training Friday, April 27, 2018 • 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Days Inn Conference Center, Flatwoods “Going Beyond the Safe Sleep Message” Eileen Tyrala, MD, FAAP, Keynote Presenter Please join us as we bring national, state, and local partners together to share the latest knowledge, tools, and best ... Read More

14% of babies exposed to drugs

By Wendy Holdren Register-Herald Reporter  |  (See Original Article) WV Birth Score’s most recent data show 14 babies out of every 100 born in the state are exposed to at least one substance during pregnancy. The data, from October 2016 through August 2017, show 9 percent of those babies were exposed to substances, while the other 5 percent were exposed ... Read More

WV DHHR: 4 of nearly 900 TANF applicants test positive for drugs

By Erin Beck Staff writer, Jan 12, 2018  |  (See Original Story) In the nearly three months since the state began drug testing low-income people applying for financial help from the state, four of the nearly 900 applicants tested positive, an official with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said. A representative of the National Conference of ... Read More

Required training offered for registered nurses

Friday, December 15, 2017 The West Virginia Board of Nursing requires all registered nurses to complete 12 hours of continuing education (CE) during each renewal period inclusive of required continuing education on substance abuse and the mental health of veterans. On Feb. 27, 2018, and April 4, 2018, the Center for Education and Organizational Development (CEOD) is offering a Veterans ... Read More