FORT WAYNE, IND. – JUNE 16 – Parkview Health’s hospitals were recently recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program for their commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep.
The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids®, the only national infant safe sleep organization. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cribs for Kids is dedicated to preventing infant sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation. As a Nationally Certified Safe Sleep Hospital, each of Parkview’s hospitals with a Family Birthing Center was recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and providing training programs for healthcare team members and family caregivers.
This is the second time Parkview’s hospitals have earned the five-year certification. The recognition applies to all Parkview hospitals with a Family Birthing Center: Parkview Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Parkview Hospital Randallia, Parkview LaGrange Hospital, Parkview Noble Hospital, Parkview DeKalb Hospital, Parkview Whitley Hospital, Parkview Huntington Hospital and Parkview Wabash Hospital.
All the hospitals met criteria to be recognized as Certified Safe Sleep Leaders. Additionally, Parkview Wabash Hospital and Parkview Noble Hospital were recognized as Certified Safe Sleep Champions.
“Each of our Family Birthing Centers is committed to giving babies and their families a healthy start, which includes safe sleep practices,” said Erin Norton, director of community outreach, Women’s and Children’s service line, Parkview Health. “Safe sleep education is one of the best tools we have in preventing infant death and lowering the infant mortality rate. We strive to educate not just parents, but all caregivers on best practices for their infant.”
“Sleep-related death results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the United States,” said Michael H. Goodstein, MD, neonatologist and medical director of research at Cribs for Kids. “We know that modeling safe infant sleep in the hospital and providing education to families has a significant effect on infant mortality. The Cribs for Kids Hospital Certification Program is designed to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths.”
Any organization or individual interested in helping to prevent infant sleep-related death can become a Safe Sleep Ambassador through Cribs for Kids’ certification program. The program is free and recommended for anyone who cares for infants, including parents, grandparents, caregivers, youth program volunteers or babysitters.
For more information and to take the free online certification course, visit cribsforkids.org/safe-sleep-ambassador/.