Reports

The West Virginia Perinatal Wellness Study will publish a compilation of an exhaustive collection of data on perinatal health and family issues across West Virginia.  As various reports are completed, they will be posted here.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2007 MEETING OF THE CENTRAL ADVISORY COUNCIL  West Virginia Perinatal Partnership's Central Advisory Council met May 18, 2007 at the WV Hospital Association in Charleston, WV to hear reports of the working Committees and subcommittees.  You can access and download, if you wish, all of the proceedings and handouts here.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WEST VIRGINIA PERINATAL WELLNESS SUMMIT
(May 18, 2006, Marriott Hotel, Charleston, WV)

BLUEPRINT FOR WEST VIRGINIA PERINATAL HEALTH (PDF)

BLUEPRINT FOR WEST VIRGINIA PERINATAL HEALTH -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (PDF)

The WV Perinatal Wellness Study has been a partnership effort to improve infant and prenatal wellness in the Mountain State of West Virginia. The Study began January 2006 and has culminated in the publishing of the Blueprint to Improve West Virginia Perinatal Health in September 2006. (key to take them to the Blueprint)

Ten years ago, West Virginia birth statistics were much brighter than today. The State’s rates for pre-term birth, primary C-section, vaginal births after caesarean section (VBAC), and low birth weight infants were all more positive for healthy outcomes than they are today.

The Study shed light on the State of West Virginia’s vested interest in improving the quality and the cost of perinatal health. Through Medicaid, PEIA and Maternal and Child Health, the State provides health coverage for over 56 percent of the pregnant women and newborn infants. The State also supports three medical schools and numerous medical residency programs that contribute to perinatal health in the State. If West Virginia could achieve improvements fewer babies would be lost and more dollars saved by health insurance payers and by the State of West Virginia.

During the Study, West Virginia health care professionals voiced a strong desire to participate in the process to improve perinatal care. Thirty-three organizational partnered in the Study, over 200 perinatal professionals participated in the Key Informant Survey and 90 contributed in drafting the Blueprint. They indicated that although many elements of a cohesive system are present in the State, we must move towards a statewide system rather than a fractured regional approach. We need to utilize new methods of communication, provide better support for medical professionals in rural areas, better utilize our intellectual resources, and more fully implement parent support and education programs.

Through the Study process the Partners developed ten primary policy recommendations to improve the perinatal system. The Blueprint reports on these recommendations and describes how to make the improvements needed. The first policy recommendation is seen as essential to moving forward and to our ability to adequately address the other nine recommendations. The first policy recommendation is:

Policy Recommendation 1: Establish a Statewide Coordinated Partnership to Address Perinatal Care.

To address the policy recommendations, the second morning ( 9 AM- 1 PM, November 3, 2006) of the West Virginia Children's Health Conference  will be devoted to discussing and contributing to plans to move this study into action.  All interested parties are invited to participate. 

For more information please contact the project director, Nancy Tolliver at 304-342-8237 or the project co-director Ann Dacey at 304-293-8891.

POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS REFERRED TO IN THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PERINATAL CONSULTATION, TRANSPORT AND OUTREACH EDUCATION WITHIN THE BLUEPRINT TO IMPROVE WEST VIRGINIA PERINATAL HEALTH.  Outreach Survey of Non-Teritiary Hospitals in West Virginia.  Transport Survey of Non-Teritiary Hospitals in West Virginia.

WV KEY INFORMANT SURVEY
Thank you to over 200 perinatal health care providers serving West Virginia women and their infants, for completing and submitting the Key Informant Survey.