Livingston Regional Recognized For Best Practices Reducing Infant Deaths

For the second year in a row, Livingston Regional Hospital received state recognition for practices that reduce infant mortality rates.

Livingston Regional one of just 11 facilities statewide that received a BEST Award. Women’s Center Nursing Director Sheila Garrett said the hospital was honored for its progress in breastfeeding, early elective delivery reduction and safe sleeping.

“It is a push for us to do the best practices,” Garrett said. “It was really a surprise last year when we received the award, but we always here at Livingston Regional try to follow the best practices.”

Garrett said over the last five to eight years, the hospital has operated the “Cribs for Kids” campaign. Garrett said the program teaches mother’s best practices to avoid sleep related infant deaths.

“We teach the mothers while they are in here how to position the babies to decrease the potential for any kind of sudden infant death syndrome in babies,” Garrett said. “Sleep related deaths usually make up about 20 percent of all infant deaths in the U.S. per year, so this is a big deal.”

Garrett said the department also promotes breastfeeding to new mothers. Garrett said the hospital has found breastfed babies are less likely to get sick and have a stronger bond with their mother.

Garrett said lastly, the hospital evaluates each pregnancy to ensure babies are fully developed before birth. Garrett said sometimes medical conditions make an early delivery inevitable.

“We try our best to stay keep up with all the new guidelines throughout the United States,” Garrett said. “We hope to be able to continue on with our efforts to make our mommas and our babies safe.”

The Tennessee Department of Health, in partnership with the Tennessee Hospital Association, awarded hospitals across the state with award.