Brownfield Regional Medical Center has been recognized by the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) for achieving one of the highest reported rates in the state for its work to protect newborns from hepatitis B virus infection. To date there are only 13 facilities in Texas recognized by the IAC with this honor since 2012.
Brownfield Regional Medical Center is the newest entry into IAC’s Birth Dose Honor Roll (www.immunize.org/honor-roll/birthdose), which recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that have attained high coverage levels for administering the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. Brownfield Regional Medical Center immunized 93% of newborns in the 2015 calendar year 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. “Brownfield Regional Medical Center’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.”
BRMC takes great strides is protecting as many infants born in the facility as possible by educating, encouraging and administering the Hepatitis B immunization before newborns are discharged home.
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For more information on the Hepatitis B vaccination contact Nickie Clare at nickie@brownfield-rmc.org 806-637-3551 EXT 327 or visit the website for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hepb/
