NHRMC’s Betty H. Cameron Women’s and Children’s Hospital has been designated as a 2016 Center of Excellence for neonatal abstinence syndrome care by the Vermont Oxford Network (VON).

The designation is given to hospitals that have completed standardized training and education to improve the quality and safety of care for patients with neonatal
abstinence syndrome (NAS) and their family members. 

Infants with NAS show severe signs of opioid withdrawal and often have higher rates of neonatal complications and longer hospital stays. 

Robert DiGiuseppe, neonatologist for Coastal Carolina Neonatology at NHRMC, said in a news release that the staff at the women’s and children’s hospital “has worked diligently to ensure our physicians, nurses and staff provide compassionate, safe and effective care to NAS patients and their families.”

DiGiuseppe said receiving the VON designation “is a profound reminder of the education, training and dedication required to treat an important and vulnerable population of substance-exposed babies so they can live healthy lives.”

To achieve the VON Center of Excellence award, hospitals are required to train at least 85 percent of their designated care team using live webinars, improvement programs, analysis and benchmarking with other hospitals. 

NHRMC exceeded that goal by training 302 interdisciplinary health care providers, representing 88 percent of the team caring for NAS patients and their families, the release said.