Every two years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) invites all hospitals across the United States to complete its Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey. Results from the 2018 survey were recently released revealing just how well Southern New Hampshire Health performs in relation to other hospitals when it comes to promoting breastfeeding.
“We earned a total score of 95 on our most recent survey,” says Chief Medical Officer Dr. Timothy Scherer. “To put things into perspective, the national average total score is 79. These results demonstrate the high-quality care our staff extends to the new mothers and babies they care for.”
The survey measures hospitals in a variety of categories and averages those scores to come to a total score. Areas of measurement include immediate postpartum care, rooming-in, feeding practices, feeding education, discharge support, and institutional management. In four out of six of these categories, Southern New Hampshire Health received a perfect score of 100.
“Studies show that breast milk gives babies a healthy start. Here at Southern New Hampshire Health, we have three Certified Lactation Consultants,” says Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer Cheryl Gagne, DNP, MBA, RN, CNE-BC. “They provide new mothers with both the education and support they need to begin breastfeeding successfully. It is their commitment to their patients, as well as the collaborative efforts of the entire team in maternity, that is reflected in our mPINC survey score.”
To learn more about the mPINC survey and to see results from across the United States, click here.
