WMCHC RECEIVES $25,000 GRANT TO TREAT JAUNDICE NEWBORNS

AllOne Foundation & Charities has awarded a $25,000 grant to Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers (WMCHC) in support of its NEPA Bili Baby Program. Key aspects of the program are to expedite treatment through prompt bilirubin level testing and improve access to newborn phototherapy blankets (bili-blankets).

AllOne Foundation & Charities CEO John Cosgrove commended WMCHC for its “creative, frontline” approach to meeting patient needs. He thanked the WMCHC providers, staff and administration for making AllOne Charities aware of the need and allowing the organization to be a contributor to the solution.

The concept for WMCHC’s NEPA Bili Baby Program came from Board-certified Pediatrician Apurva Jain, MD who collaborated with colleague Larryl Damon, Jr., DO. Both physicians, who treat patients at the Sterling Pediatric Center in Lake Ariel, identified a need for improvement in diagnosis and timely treatment within a rural area offering limited resources.

Dr. Jain described the need to screen babies for elevated bilirubin levels as a “common issue” at the practice “probably seeing one case a week.”    Additionally, once a

treatment plan was put in place, the challenges of locating and paying for the bili-blankets presented more barriers. Bili-blankets are normally rented from local durable medical equipment (DME) companies. Since there are only a few DMEs within the service area and a limited quantity of blankets per supplier, parents were sometimes forced to travel 40 miles or beyond with no guarantee a blanket would be in stock. Additionally, fees of between $75 to $125 per day could be incurred.

“Offering this program, which follows clinical practice guidelines for treatment set by the American Academy of Pediatrics, takes us to the next level of care in what we can offer,” stated Dr. Jain.

Monies from the AllOne Grant allowed WMCHC to equip its four pediatric offices with transcutaneous bilirubinometers, providing a non-invasive method for measuring serum bilirubin with dependable results in seconds rather than hours or days. Additionally, WMCHC purchased three bili-blankets to be offered to their patients more readily and at no cost.

Although the blankets have only been in service less than a month one patient has already benefited.  “Through effective screening and prompt treatment our ultimate goal is to decrease newborn readmissions,” stated Dr. Jain.

WMCHC is a federally qualified health center clinically affiliated with Wayne Memorial Hospital, Inc. For information on call of WMCHC’s services and office locations, visit www.wmchc.net.

Photo: Shown during check presentation are, left to right, WMCHC Chief Development Officer Erica Brown; Board-certified Pediatrician Apurva Jain, MD; WMCHC Chief Executive Officer Teresa Lacey, RN; AllOne Foundation & Charities CEO John Cosgrove; Board-certified Pediatrician Larryl Damon, Jr., DO and WMCHC Pediatric Centers Practice Manager, Jennifer Allison, LPN.