Highland Hospital Recognized by National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program

Highland Hospital is being recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as a Gold Safe Sleep Champion, for commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep.

 

The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids, a Pittsburgh-based organization dedicated to preventing infant, sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation. In addition to being Cribs for Kids partners, Highland Hospital is recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and providing training programs for parents, staff and the community.

“Sleep-Related Death (SRD) results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the U.S.,” said Michael H. Goodstein, M.D., neonatologist and medical director of research at Cribs for Kids. “We know that consistent education can have a profound effect on infant mortality; this program is designed to encourage safe sleep education and to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths.” This program is aligned with the Maternal Child Health Bureau's vision of reducing infant mortality through the promotion of infant sleep safety as outlined in the Infant Mortality CoIIN Initiative.

 

“Highland Hospital is proud to be one of the top hospitals for maternity care in the Rochester area and excited to earn this certification,” said Clara Marchese, RNC, MS, IBCLC, Nurse Manager, Highland Family Maternity Center. “Patient and Family centered care is at the heart of what we do every day and educating parents on safe sleep for their babies is part of that mission.”

The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created in partnership with leading infant health and safety organizations such as All Baby & Child, The National Center for the Review & Prevention of Child Deaths, Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs, Kids In Danger, Children’s Safety Network, American SIDS Institute, Charlie’s Kids, CJ Foundation for SIDS, and numerous state American Academy of Pediatric chapters and health departments.

 

For more information on the Cribs for Kids National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification program visit http://www.cribsforkids.org/safesleephospitalcertification/.