Hospital earns ‘High 5’ award

Allen County Regional Hospital is recognized as a High 5 for Mom & Baby Hospital.
HIgh 5 Program Coordinator, Gwenn Whittit, said she works with 60 of the 67 hospitals where newborns are delivered throughout the state. Allen County is the 29th hospital to be recognized, but has worked its way to the top faster than most hospitals, she said. The hospital staff began training in August 2016 and is implementing best maternal practices at 80 percent or better. That’s a feat that typically is achieved after two years, according to Whittit.
“This was something we were already passionate about so that’s why it was easy,” Nursing Director Tina Poe said.
Over 60 percent of (all) moms who deliver at Allen County are breastfeeding their newborns, according to Poe.
Most are still breastfeeding six weeks after delivery, said Dr. Becky Lohman.
“Moms that deliver here (at Allen County) are getting the best quality care,” Whittit said.
 In order to be recognized as a High 5 for Mom & Baby hospital, staff must be working with a fraction of 80 percent or greater of new moms in five different areas, including skin to skin contact, feeding only breastmilk, keeping the infant and mother in the same room, no use of pacifiers and providing information about breastfeeding support services. The percentage is figured after deducting infants who are unable to be breastfed, Whitit said.
ACRH has done a super job, Whitit said.
 The OB staff received a plaque during the hospital’s board of trustees meeting Tuesday. 
 “I am exceedingly proud of the girls and especially to accomplish this in such a short amount of time and with such determination,” Hospital CEO Tony Thompson said.
Staff at Fort Scott’s Mercy Hospital and Chanute’s Neosho Memorial Regional Center have had the education but have not yet been recognized as operating at 80 percent or better, according to Whitit.
High 5 for Mom & Baby is funded by a grant from United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.
This is the second award the hospital has received this month. Iola’s Chamber of Commerce awarded the hospital the “Large Business of the Year Award” during the Chamber’s annual meeting, March 17.