Baptist Union County honored for Hepatitis B Vaccine Birth Dose Rate

NEW ALBANY, Miss. - Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County has been recognized by the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) and the Mississippi State Department of Health for achieving one of the highest reported rates in the state for its work to protect newborns from hepatitis B virus infection.

"Our hospital is committed to providing the highest quality of care and helping facilitate healthy communities," said Walter Grace, CEO and administrator of Baptist Union County. "Baptist Union County delivers 1,100 babies per year, so adhering to proper safety measures to protect newborns and families is a top priority."

Baptist Union County is the newest entry into 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. The hospital immunized 100 percent of babies from January to December 2014 and 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 healthcare 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. "Baptist Union County'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."

Baptist Union County's Women's Center underwent a renovation in 2008 and now features 10 labor/delivery/recovery suites, two surgical suites for Caesarean sections, a newly remodeled level I newborn nursery and a 28-bed postpartum unit.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County, the recipient of many awards and accolades, was most recently recognized as one of the top 100 hospitals in the country by the Safecare Group. The hospital was awarded the Outstanding Patient Experience Award by Healthgrades and was named a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures^® by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America, in 2012 and 2013. Baptist Union County offers a variety of health care services, including adult and pediatric inpatient services, labor and delivery, outpatient and laser surgery and a 24-hour, newly renovated emergency room. The hospital also offers telemedicine and imaging and laboratory services, including an American College of Radiology-accredited MRI machine.

For more information about Baptist Union County, please call 662-538-7631 or visit unioncounty.baptistonline.org.