Back row, left to right: Nichole Gardner, Julie Price,
Krystal Schiefelbein, Lindsey Brown, Connie Becker,
Juliana Gonzalez, Johnna Magee, Gina Foster.
Front row, left to right: Jennifer Creach, Sandy Shelton,
Linda Webster, Shelby Bailey.
Not pictured: Whitney Clement, Carla Bates,
Crystal Ray, Joy Rivera, Serenity Barlett
Mercy Hospital Lebanon been recognized by the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) for achieving the highest reported rate in Missouri for protecting newborns from hepatitis B virus infection.
Mercy Hospital Lebanon was among only seven hospitals in the state to be placed on the IAC’s Birth Dose Honor Roll, which recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that have attained high coverage levels for administering the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.
“We’re very proud to have our staff acknowledged for their care and dedication to our youngest patients - an example of our commitment to all the lives we touch,” said Judy O’Connor-Snyder, vice president of nursing at Mercy Hospital Lebanon.
Mercy Hospital Lebanon’s OB department immunized 97 percent of babies from October 2013 through September 2014. That’s the highest percentage for the state of Missouri. The hospital also took additional steps to prevent perinatal transmission of hepatitis B.
The national standard of care to prevent hepatitis B virus infection in babies is to administer hepatitis B vaccine to all newborns before they leave the hospital or birthing center. This standard is being adopted by centers of health care excellence nationwide as a safety net to protect newborns from a wide range of medical errors that lead to babies being unprotected from perinatal hepatitis B infection.
“Hospitals and birthing centers have a responsibility to protect babies from life-threatening hepatitis B infection,” said Deborah Wexler, MD, executive director and founder of IAC. “Mercy’s commitment to the best practice of hepatitis B vaccination at birth has shown them to be a leader in preventing the transmission of the hepatitis B virus.”
For more information visit the website www.immunize.org/honor-roll/birthdose
