Allegheny Health Network’s Jefferson Hospital has been awarded a Gold-Level Labor & Delivery program distinction by the Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative (PA PQC) for its efforts in promoting infant safe sleep practices.
The PA PQC Designation Awards recognize hospitals across Pennsylvania that demonstrate a strong commitment to improving maternal and neonatal health. The awards focus on initiatives such as addressing maternal opioid use disorder, neonatal abstinence syndrome, maternal sepsis, and promoting safe sleep.
Safe sleep practices have become increasingly important as sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) rates rose by nearly 12 percent between 2020 and 2022, even though overall U.S. infant mortality improved during the same period. This increase has led public health officials to call for better education and safer sleeping environments for infants.
Since 2016, AHN Jefferson has run a comprehensive program to promote safe sleep for infants. The hospital conducts hourly rounding to educate families in real time, provides thorough practitioner training on best practices, performs routine audits of safe sleep compliance, and supplies resources to new families.
“We are incredibly proud to receive this award,” said Joy M. Peters, DNP, RN, MSN, MBA, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer at AHN Jefferson and Canonsburg Hospitals. “At AHN Jefferson, we understand the importance of safe sleep practices in preventing infant mortality, and we are dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of families in our community by providing the education, support and resources they may need. We want to help ensure the babies who get their start at Jefferson hospital have the best chance to thrive when they arrive home.”
AHN Jefferson also supports families by offering compliant bassinets and “pack & play” kits at discharge if there is no safe sleeping space at home. All patients receive wearable blankets and educational materials before leaving the hospital. Additionally, prenatal courses with safe sleep instruction and local outreach programs are part of the hospital’s broader community engagement.
Other Allegheny Health Network hospitals—including AHN Forbes and AHN West Penn in Allegheny County as well as AHN Saint Vincent in Erie County—have previously received recognition from PA PQC for their commitment to safe sleep practices.
More information about AHN Jefferson is available at ahn.org.
