Hospital honored for Hepatitis B Vaccine Birth Dose Rate

The Family Beginnings Birthing Center at Uniontown Hospital has been recognized by the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health for achieving one of the highest reported rates in the state for its work to protect newborns from hepatitis B virus infection.

“Our team in the FBBC works to ensure that every newborn that takes their first breaths here has the most comprehensive and compassionate care,” said Betty Ann Rock, Chief Nursing Officer and Executive Director of Nursing Services at Uniontown Hospital.

The Family Beginnings Birthing Center is the newest entry into IAC’s Birth Dose Honor Roll, which recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that have attained high coverage levels for administering the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. The FBBC immunized 94 percent of babies between Jan. 1, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2017 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 vaccines 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. “Uniontown Hospital’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.”

To learn more about Uniontown Hospital, please visit uniontownhospital.com.