The Tennessee Department of Health, in partnership with the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA), recently awarded hospitals across the state with the BEST Award, the department announced in a press release.
The BEST Award stands for Breastfeeding, Early elective delivery reduction, and Safe sleep for Tennessee babies, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.
The 11 hospitals that received the BEST Award for 2021 are:
- Cumberland Medical Center
- Indian Path Community Hospital
- Livingston Regional Hospital
- Maury Regional Medical Center
- Methodist Hospital – Germantown
- Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital
- Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital – Murfreesboro
- TriStar Centennial Medical Center
- TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center
- TriStar Summit Medical Center – Hermitage
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
“As a pediatrician and a mother, I know the early days after a baby is born can be the hardest,” Tennessee Department of Health Deputy Commissioner for Population Health Morgan McDonald, MD, FAAP, FAACP, said in a statement. “But if we can help educate and support parents early on these important steps, we can ensure all infants in Tennessee have the best outcomes.”
Data cited by the Department of Health shows that establishing and promoting “BEST” practices can reduce infant mortality.
As stated in the press release, “Breastfeeding can protect babies and mothers against short- and long-term illnesses and diseases. Early elective delivery reduction helps to ensure a baby is as fully developed as possible before delivery. Lastly, sleep-related deaths account for approximately 20 percent of all infant deaths each year. Studies show that parents are more likely to follow the ABCs of Safe Sleep when that behavior is modeled in the hospitals and place infants Alone, on their Backs, and in a Crib or bassinet.”
“This continued partnership with THA has helped save the lives of infants and improve the health of mothers and babies,” Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP, said in a statement. “Focusing on these efforts will have a meaningful impact in our efforts to reduce infant mortality and ensure more babies celebrate their first birthday.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Cumberland Medical Center” by Cumberland Medical Center.
