In this edition:

• Getting NC Women the Treatment They Need to Prevent Subsequent Preterm Birth
• Obstetric Hemorrhage Patient Safety Bundle Webinar, Feb. 24
• Women’s Health Policy Outlook 2016
• Make Your Vote Count This Year
• Preventing Infant and Child Deaths in North Carolina
• Managing Online Reputation in a Busy Healthcare Practice Webinar, January 19
• How to Win Cool Tech Gear
• 2016 Annual Meeting of the NC Ob/Gyn Society and NC Section/ACOG

Getting NC Women the Treatment They Need to Prevent Subsequent Preterm Birth

This article was submitted by the UNC Center for Maternal and Infant Health.

Progesterone (17P) supplementation should be offered to women with a current singleton pregnancy and a prior spontaneous singleton preterm birth as stated in ACOG Practice Bulletin 130, 2012 (initial recommendation, 2008). The North Carolina Division of Public Health has supported a 17P program, administered by the UNC Center for Maternal and Infant Health (CMIH), since 2006. Nationally, North Carolina has been a leader in advancing 17P treatment. Yet, there is more work to be done to implement this prevention opportunity fully. A recent study of two of North Carolina’s major hospitals revealed that eligible women were being treated with 17P in only 47% of the cases from 2012-2013 (Stringer, EM et al. Submitted).

In interviews with patients and in focus groups with their care managers, CMIH sought to understand the perspectives of women who were currently receiving or had received 17P treatment during their pregnancy and thereby improve 17P dissemination in NC. Reasons for declining or discontinuing treatment included transportation difficulties, childcare needs, and the inability to leave work for weekly injections. Several women explained that they were anxious about getting injections. In addition, care managers suggested that some women were not aware of the seriousness of preterm birth. A number of women receiving treatment complained of pain at the injection site and of inconsistencies in injection administration by nurses. Women receiving 17P reported that they found it helpful and felt more comfortable proceeding with treatment when providers were very informative and supportive of the treatment process. Care managers recommended that physicians discuss 17P during the postpartum visit with patients who had preterm births.

Preterm birth is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and 17P has been shown to reduce preterm birth by 33% in women pregnant with a singleton and with a history of prior preterm birth. Physicians are encouraged to offer 17P to all eligible women. Women need continued education about preterm birth, and they need support and encouragement during the entire course of treatment as adhering to weekly injections is difficult. Even while accepting treatment, patients need to be reminded that 17P treatment is safe for mother and her developing baby. Minimizing the pain of the intramuscular injections (including administering 17P slowly) and having them administered by the same nurse at each appointment may help motivate women to complete treatment.

Resources for prescribing, ordering, treating and billing for 17P:

• UNC Center for Maternal and Infant Health
  ....
• Community Care of NC Pregnancy Medical Home

top of page 

Maternal Safety Bundle Webinar on Obstetric Hemorrhage, Feb. 24

• Date: February 24, 2016
• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
• Register
• Event Password: quality

The North Carolina Quality Center will present the next event in its Maternal Safety Bundles Webinar Series on February 24, 2016 at 12 noon. In this upcoming activity, participants with learn how to implement the Obstetric Hemorrhage Patient Safety Bundle from the Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health Care. The webinars promote greater implementation of three new care bundles aimed at reducing the incidence of severe maternal morbidity and mortality. The care bundles provide evaluation and management protocols for the most common preventable causes of several maternal morbidity and mortality: obstetric hemorrhage, severe hypertension, and venous thromboembolism. Up to one hour of CME is available with each event.

The NC Ob/Gyn Society, the NC Section of ACOG, the NC Quality Center and others have joined together in the NC Partnership for Maternal Safety to support implementation of the bundles at every maternity hospital in North Carolina. Please contact Denna Suko to learn more about the NC Partnership and opportunities for your involvement.

Webinar 1: Maternal Safety Bundles Overview (July 29 2015)

• View the Webinar Recording
• View the Presentation Slides

Webinar 2: Maternal Safety Bundles: Hypertension Bundle (October 26 2015)

• View the Webinar Recording
• View the Presentation Slides

Webinar 3: Maternal Safety Bundle: Obstetric Hemorrhage

• Date: February 24, 2016
• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
• Register
• Event Password: quality

Webinar 4: Maternal Safety Bundle: Venous Thromboembolism

• Date: February 24, 2016
• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
• Register
• Event Password: quality

Credit Statement: The Wake Forest School of Medicine designates each live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

top of page 

Women's Health Policy Outlook 2016

The NC Ob/Gyn Society continues to be a powerful force in the effort to protect and promote quality women’s health care in North Carolina. Many women’s health topics were considered by the NC General Assembly during the very long session of 2015. There were bills addressing prenatal substance abuse, abortion, maternal mortality, residency training, fetal tissue, scope of practice, and minor consent, among others. There was no shortage of work to be done, and here’s a list of our most notable achievements of the past year:

• Preserved the state’s Pregnancy Medical Home Program
• Established a Maternal Mortality Review Committee
• Protected the professional interests of ob/gyn physicians in Medicaid reform
• Defended against attempts to erode childbirth safety in NC
• Preserved teens’ access to essential and timely health care

We remain committed to ensuring that the voice of ob/gyn doctors is represented. The 2016 session of the NC General Assembly will be the biennium’s “short session.” The legislature will convene on April 25, 2016 and eligible items for consideration include budgetary legislation and bills passed by one chamber in the 2015 session.

Implementation of Medicaid reform measures will be foremost among the issues of interest and concern to ob/gyns. We also expect NC DHHS’ contract with Community Care of North Carolina and the future of the Pregnancy Medical Home Program to be among the top issues that will be discussed in Raleigh this year. Proposed reforms to the state’s Certificate of Need regulations will again take center stage as well.

top of page 

Make Your Vote Count This Year

Heading into the early part of 2016, the political elections will take center stage with the presidential race at the top of the ballot. Two North Carolina physicians have filed for election in 2016 to the NC General Assembly – Dr. Gregory Murphy, a urologist from Greenville, NC, and Dr. Frank Moretz, a retired anesthesiologist from Asheville, NC. A delegation from the NC Ob/Gyn Society leadership met with Dr. Moretz recently to discuss his candidacy and a meeting with Dr. Murphy is scheduled in February.

We want every physician to exercise her/his right to full participation in our democratic process in 2016. Here’s an election season checklist to help you make your vote count:

c    Take advantage of early voting by mail.  Voting by mail begins January 25.  Learn more about Absentee Voting by Mail.

c    If you’re new to NC, register to vote in the primary by February 19.  Visit the State Board of Elections website for information on registering to vote and voting in NC.

c    Support the NC Ob/Gyn Society’s political action and education committee – GOPAC  – and help us support candidates who understand the value and importance of quality women’s health services.  Download the GOPAC contribution form.

c    Vote in the primary election on March 15.  Locate your polling place.

c    Attend the Obstetrician-Gynecologists White Coat Wednesday in May 2016 (date TBD). Email dsuko@ncmedsoc.org for details.

c    Vote in the general election on November 8, 2016.  If you can’t make it to the polls between the hours of 6:30am and 7:30pm, consider voting early by mail or in-person.

top of page 

Preventing Infant and Child Deaths in North Carolina

The NC Ob/Gyn Society works with the Child Fatality Task Force (CFTF) to prevent infant and child deaths. Together, we’re saving lives. Since the CFTF was created in 1991, the child death rate in our state has decreased by 46 percent.

According to the 2014 Infant Mortality Statistics for North Carolina from the State Center for Health Statistics, prematurity/low birth weight was the leading cause of infant death (neonatal and postnatal) in North Carolina in 2014. While the data show little change in the low birth weight percentages since 1995, infant mortality rates are on the decline. Despite these positive trends, infant death rates in North Carolina continue to be among the highest in the nation.

Infant Mortality Trends – According to the latest figures, infant mortality rates have steadily decreased since 1995. In 2014 the infant death rate is reported at 7.1 per 1,000 live births, down from 9.7 in 1998. The most consistent decline has been in the neonatal death rate, which has dropped to 4.9 in 2014 from 6.5 in 1998.

Racial Disparities – While significant racial disparities persist, progress is being made to reduce infant mortality in African Americans. The 2014 infant mortality rate among black residents is reported at 12.8 per 1,000 live births, down from 17.5 in 1998. Among white residents, the rate is 5.1 in 2014.

Volunteer Opportunities – Representatives of the NC Ob/Gyn Society regularly attend meetings of the Child Fatality Task Force and its committees. If you’re interested in working with us to prevent infant and child deaths in North Carolina, contact Denna Suko at dsuko@ncmedsoc.org for more information.

top of page 

Managing Online Reputation in a Busy Healthcare Practice Webinar, January 19

top of page 

New and Renewing NC Ob/Gyn Society Members Will Be Automatically Entered for a Chance to Win!

JBL Charge 2+ Splashproof Bluetooth Speaker with Powerful Bass

The JBL Charge 2+ is an ultra-powerful, ultra-big-battery portable Bluetooth speaker with high-quality stereo sound. Revamped with fresh styles and a splashproof design, the Charge 2+ takes the party everywhere – be it poolside or dancing in the rain – and amplifies the excitement with JBL Bass Radiators. The speaker is powered by a 6000mAh battery that provides an incredible 12 hours of playtime and can charge all your devices, like your smartphone or tablet, via USB. Charge 2+ also comes with a built-in noise and echo cancelling speakerphone so you make crystal clear calls with the press of a button.

Every renewing and new NC Ob/Gyn Society member enrolled by Feb. 29 will be automatically entered to win!

A winner will be selected by a random drawing conducted by the NC Ob/Gyn Society and announced by email to all members.

Three Ways to Join or Renew Your Membership:

1. Join or renew online; or
   ....
2. Complete and return a 2016 Membership Renewal Form or a Membership Application; or
   ......
3. Contact Evan Simmons at 919-833-3836 to join or renew by phone or by email to request an invoice.

Through education, advocacy, communications and professional relations, the North Carolina Obstetrical and Gynecological Society promotes excellence in patient care and represents the interests of obstetrician-gynecologists.

top of page 

Save the Date!
2016 NC Ob/Gyn Society Annual Meeting
April 8-10 | The Grandover Resort and Spa | Greensboro

top of page