December 2, 2021
Contact: Matthew.Lara@KS.gov
Kansas Newborn Screening Program Launches Second Annual Facility Recognition Awards
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in partnership with the Kansas Hospital Association and the Kansas Midwives Alliance is pleased to announce the second annual recognition awards for hospitals, facilities and midwives who provide newborn screening services. Released by the Kansas Newborn Screening Program (KS-NBS) on December 1st, 2021, 142 health care facilities and midwives are being honored for their dedication to higher newborn screening standards in 2020.
Health care facilities and newborn providers can earn recognition by meeting or exceeding state quality, reporting and timeliness goals or state averages in the following categories
- CCHD Screening,
- Hearing Screening
- Collection Age
- Transit Time
- Unsatisfactory Rate for Metabolic and Genetic Screening.
For 2020, Sabetha Community Hospital Inc., Newman Regional Health and Hutchinson Regional Medical Center have been awarded recognition as the All Around Best of the Best for earning recognition in four or more categories. Eighteen additional facilities earned a “Best of the Best” designation for either point-of-care screenings (hearing and critical congenital heart defects) or metabolic and genetic screenings.
“We’re very pleased with the effort that facilities across the state have put forth to improve the quality and timeliness of our Newborn Screening program,” said Ashley D. Goss, Acting Secretary. “This awards program is an opportunity to recognize their dedication and honor their service to the families of Kansas.”
The recognition publication is available on the program’s website: www.kdheks.gov/newborn_screening.
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About the Kansas Newborn Screening Program The Kansas Newborn Screening Program has screened babies for rare and serious conditions at no charge to families since 1965, starting with screening newborns for phenylketonuria (PKU). Most babies are born healthy. However, some are born with serious medical conditions that may not be visible at birth. Left untreated, these conditions can cause permanent disability or death. Over the years the program has added 35 additional disorders to its panel including hearing loss, critical congenital heart defects, and 32 additional genetic and metabolic disorders. Over 36,700 babies received this essential service in 2019, saving 20 lives and preventing serious illness or disability for more than 200 Kansas children.
