Erlanger Health System recently earned four state awards for its work to improve the safety and health of infants:
• The Tennessee Department of Health BEST award for its efforts to decrease infant mortality
• A Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care Milestone Award for its progress in a safe sleep project
• A Gold Quality Award for its participation in a TIPQC Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy project
• A Silver Banner Award for its participation in a TIPQC Opioid Exposed Newborn project.
In 2019, approximately seven out of every 1,000 infants in Tennessee did not make it to their first birthday. To meet the criteria for the BEST award, Erlanger partnered with the Tennessee Department of Health and the Tennessee Hospital Association to reduce infant mortality by promoting breastfeeding, early elective delivery elimination and safe sleep.
The BEST award stands for “Breastfeeding, Early elective delivery reduction and Safe sleep for Tennessee babies.”
Increasing breastfeeding, reducing early elective delivery and increasing adherence to safe sleep practices can reduce infant deaths, according to Erlanger.
Erlanger also achieved a milestone award for its work in the TIPQC’s Safe Sleep project. The most recent data in Tennessee on sleep related deaths in 2019 showed 103 infants dying due to sleep related deaths.
This data shows why it’s important for every baby to follow the ABCs of safe sleep: “Alone, on their Backs and in a Crib.”
Erlanger achieved this award through several processes, including continuing education for staff around infant sleep safety and implementing care measures to improve processes and patient education about safe sleep practices.
The TIPQC has also awarded Erlanger a Gold Quality Award for its accomplishments in the Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy project and a Silver Banner Award for its achievements in the two-year Opioid Exposed Newborn Project.
These awards are based on participation, monthly data collection and noted improvements in implementing best practices of care.
Source: Erlanger Health System