January 27, 2017
Dear Hospital Chief Executive Officer:
We are pleased to announce that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the March
of Dimes, the Kansas Hospital Association, and the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative (KHC) have joined
together to encourage continued progress towards eliminating early elective deliveries (EED) in our state.
Together, we support Kansas birthing hospitals in adopting the American Congress of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines that highlight the importance of allowing babies to reach 39 weeks
gestation through the elimination of elective labor inductions and cesarean sections. Kansas hospitals
moved to adopt these practices in 2014 under the leadership of the KHC and the March of Dimes. The
collaborative efforts and hard work of hospitals have resulted in a rapid and significant reduction in the
statewide EED rate from 8% in 2013 to 2% in 2015 (Source: CMS Hospital Compare). This laudable
achievement deserves recognition, and we are inviting you to secure this recognition.
The March of Dimes has established a national banner recognition program to recognize hospitals that
have achieved EED rates below 5%. Hospitals that complete the application and meet the criteria outlined
in the March of Dimes checklist (attached) will receive a customized banner that commends your hospital
for its commitment to improving the quality of care for moms and babies in your community. KDHE is
proud to supply banners at no cost to qualifying hospitals. Each hospital will also receive an associated
press kit from the March of Dimes so that your patients, families, community leaders, and donors will be
aware of your commitment to the health and safety of your community. Congratulations on your
accomplishments!
Please consider participating in this recognition program. Simply complete and submit the attached
checklist by March 31 to be considered for a fourth quarter 2016 banner. Completed checklists may be
emailed to 39WeeksBanner@MarchofDimes.org. Please direct any questions to Danielle Jones, March
of Dimes Maternal Child Health Director, at Djones@MarchofDimes.org or to Rachel Sisson, KDHE
Bureau of Family Health Director, at Rachel.Sisson@ks.gov.
Sincerely,
Susan Mosier, MD, MBA, FACS Danielle Jones, MPH
Secretary and State Health Officer Maternal Child Health Director
Kansas Department of Health and Environment March of Dimes
Thomas L. Bell
President/CEO
Kansas Hospital Association
Kendra Tinsley, MS, CPPS
Executive Director
Kansas Healthcare Collaborative
x
The March of Dimes is partnering with the Kansas Department of Health and
Environment, the Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) and the American Congress
of Obstetrics and Gynecology to recognize Kansas birthing hospitals that pledge to
eliminate early elective deliveries.
More than 30 years ago, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
(ACOG) published guidelines on the importance of allowing babies to reach 39
weeks gestation to optimize brain and organ development and improve neonatal
outcomes. Unfortunately, even as recently as 2012, some providers still were
inducing labor or performing cesarean sections prior to 39 weeks gestation without
medical necessity. The good news is that Kansas hospitals and providers have
taken the lead to turn that trend around, and the March of Dimes Hospital Banner
Program is designed to recognize those achievements.
39 - week hospital
banner program
Kansas
how the program works
At 34 weeks, the
volume of the
cerebral cortex
which controls
cognition,
perception and
motor skillsis
53% of its volume
at 39-40 weeks.
Babies born
before 39 weeks
are more likely to
have vision and
hearing problems
after birth.
Babies born before
39 weeks often
can’t learn to suck
and swallow well,
and may not be
able to stay awake
long enough to eat.
It’s that easy! Read the attached FAQs if you
have any additional questions. Hospitals
accepted for Banner status will receive a
media kit to publicize the recognition in their
communities.
In Kansas
Average medical
cost for a
healthy baby:
$4,389
1
Average medical
cost for a
premature baby:
$54,194
1
In 2015, 66
births per week
were preterm
(8.8% of all
births)
2
Nearly five
infants die
each week
before ever
reaching their
first birthday
2
In 2015, nearly
179 births were
a result of early
elective
deliveries
3
Sources: March of Dimes Premature Birth: The financial impact on business report
1
KDHE 2015 Annual Vital
Statistics
2
, 2015 CMS Hospital Compare EED data
3
,
Complete the attached application.
Submit the completed application to
39WeeksBanner@MarchofDimes.org.
Be recognized via a media event at
your facility or at an upcoming March
of Dimes event!
1
2
3
frequently asked questions
1. How much does it cost our hospital system to apply for March of Dimes
Banner status?
It is free to apply to the program. The hard part has already been done by
you and your teams now is the opportunity for you and your staff to receive
the recognition you deserve.
2. If we are approved for a banner, how much will it cost?
KDHE will cover the cost of the banner and shipping to your facility through
December 31, 2017. If you are not able to apply until after December 31,
2017, and need support to cover the cost of the banner, please contact us.
3. How many of the banners will we receive and how much does it cost if we
want more than one to display at our facility?
You will receive one banner per hospital. Any additional banners can be
ordered for $150 per banner, plus shipping and handling charges.
4. After achieving March of Dimes Banner recognition, do we need to reapply
next year?
Yes. The Banner will reflect that you are a March of Dimes Banner hospital
for 2016. We know that change is sometimes easier to implement, but more
difficult to sustain, so we will ask that hospitals complete the application
process on a year-to-year basis to demonstrate their ongoing commitment
to their communities.
5. Do we have to submit a separate application for each hospital within our
system?
In most cases, yes, but if you feel an exception should be made please
contact us.
6. How often do we have to report performance measures as a March of Dimes
Banner hospital?
This is not an ongoing quality improvement process, so once the application
has been received and approved by the March of Dimes, you will not have to
submit any reports until the next year’s application cycle.
Still have questions? Contact 39WeeksBanner@MarchofDimes.org or contact
Danielle Jones, Director of Maternal Child Health, at the Kansas Chapter of the
March of Dimes, at Djones@MarchofDimes.org.
39 - week hospital
banner program
Kansas
MARCH OF DIMES
39+ WEEKS RECOGNITION BANNER CHECKLIST
Hospital Name:
Hospital Address:
Contact information for person completing the checklist:
Name:
Title:
Phone:
Email:
POLICY AND PROCEDURES
YES
NO
1. (REQUIRED) Does the hospital have a written policy in place regarding non-
medically indicated deliveries less than 39 weeks gestational age?
Include a copy of the policy with this checklist
2. (REQUIRED) Does the written policy clearly define medical indications for
deliveries less than 39 weeks?
3. (OPTIONAL) Does the hospital have procedures in place to monitor the
scheduling of cesarean sections and inductions of labor prior to 39 weeks
gestational age?
Include a copy of the procedures/protocol with this checklist
RATE
4. (REQUIRED) Does the hospital have a process to track and monitor the rate of
non-medically indicated deliveries less than 39 weeks gestational age?
a. (REQUIRED FOR HOSPITALS WITH 1,100 OR MORE BIRTHS PER YEAR) Is
the hospital’s rate of non-medically indicated deliveries less than 39 weeks
gestational age below 5% (according to the PC-01 measure last reported to
The Joint Commission)?
Provide the rate:
Provide the date this measure was reported to The Joint Commission:
b. (REQUIRED FOR HOSPITALS WITH < 1,100 BIRTHS PER YEAR) Is the
hospital’s rate of non-medically indicated deliveries less than 39 weeks
gestational age below 5% (rate must be from two consecutive, previous
quarters)?
Provide the rate:
Describe how the rate was calculated:
5. (OPTIONAL FOR HOSPITALS WITH < 1,100 BIRTHS PER YEAR) Does the
hospital submit its rate to a regulatory agency (e.g. The Joint Commission, The
Leapfrog Group, etc.)?
If so, include a copy showing rates for at least six months.
To be signed by hospital leadership:
Signature: ___________________________________________________
Printed name: ________________________________________________
Title: _______________________________________________________
Date: _______________________________________________________
click to sign
signature
click to edit
RELATIONSHIP WITH LOCAL MARCH OF DIMES CHAPTER
Please tell us about the hospital’s relationship with the local March of Dimes Chapter (check all
that apply):
□ The hospital has a staff member (or members) that serve on March of Dimes Committee.
□ The hospital has a staff member (or members) chair a March of Dimes Committee or event.
□ The hospital sponsors Signature Chef Auction.
□ The hospital sponsors March for Babies.
□ The hospital sponsors Nurse of the Year.
□ The hospital uses March of Dimes consumer education materials.
□ The hospital receives March of Dimes community grant funding. List project:
□ The hospital receives March of Dimes research grant funding. List project:
__________________________________________________________________________
□ Other relationship, please describe:
__________________________________________________________________________
□ I don’t know
□ The hospital is NOT involved with the local March of Dimes chapter.
Would you like to be connected to the local March of Dimes chapter? □ Yes □ No