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Maternal and Child Health Programs |
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THE WASHINGTON STATE PERINATAL REGIONAL NETWORK (PRN) We are health care professionals who educate, consult, and collaborate to improve birth outcomes for all people in Washington State.Since the early 1970s, the Department of Health has contracted with tertiary level perinatal centers to provide regionalized services for pregnant women and newborns. The agency deems the regional perinatal programs essential to agency responsibilities as part of the continuing effort to support the national concept of regionalized perinatal care. In July 2006, the perinatal regional program was redesigned and shifted activities from education and consultation for perinatal/neonatal healthcare professionals to implementation of quality improvement activities. These projects contribute to improving pregnancy outcome, decreasing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, and decreasing incidence of low birth weight and prematurity. Program Description The Perinatal Regional Network is coordinated by the Department of Health, Office of Maternal and Child Health, and is a collaborative effort with the Health and Recovery Services Administration/Medicaid. The program uses state and federal funds to contract with geographically strategic healthcare institutions to coordinate and implement state and regional quality improvement projects to decrease poor pregnancy outcomes for which Medicaid clients are at disproportionately increased risk. The leadership team, comprised of members from the agency and Medicaid, is responsible for strategic planning, contract management, and technical assistance for Perinatal Regional Network coordinators. Perinatal Regional Network contractors are located at
Each of the four regional programs provides a licensed healthcare professional with expertise in neonatal and/or perinatal nursing or medicine to facilitate, coordinate, and support perinatal quality improvement within their regions and the state. The Perinatal Regional Network staff at the state and in each region serve as liaisons, consultants, and resources for all perinatal/neonatal healthcare professionals and affiliated partners in Washington State. The Perinatal Regional Network coordinators in each region involve healthcare professionals in hospitals, clinics, managed care programs, and public health agencies in quality improvement projects that promote consistent best practices to reduce perinatal and neonatal risk and increase healthy outcomes for all pregnant women and newborns. Best practice materials, tools, and resources resulting from these quality improvement projects are disseminated to health care professionals and their affiliates state-wide to improve and promote consistent high quality perinatal and neonatal care.
For more information about the Regional Perinatal Programs or the Perinatal Advisory Committee, contact: Washington State Department of Health 360-236-3582 or Bat-Sheva.Stein@doh.wa.gov Publication Number: 950-155 |
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DOH Home | Access Washington | Privacy Notice | Disclaimer/Copyright Information Links to external resources are provided as a public service and do not imply endorsement by the Washington State Department of Health. Documents posted in PDF version on the Department of Health Web site will be made available in an alternative format on request to users who are unable to download or view PDF files on the Web. To request an alternative format, contact the appropriate office listed below. Contact Information:Administration 360-236-3502 /e-mail
Address: Office of Maternal and Child Health Department of Health Community and Family Health 111 Israel Road SE Tumwater, WA 98501
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