SAMC, Purdue-Cal nursing program join against SIDS

CROWN POINT - Saint Anthony Medical Center, for the second time in a year, is joining forces with Purdue University-Calumet’s School of Nursing in an initiative aimed at saving lives.

On the heels of a project earlier this year that supported a state-backed plan to standardize patient safety wristband colors, comes “Back to Sleep … By Myself,’’ an effort to reduce the number of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases in Lake County by educating the public and health professionals on the proper way to position infants for sleeping and to stop the practice of bed sharing.

“There have been an alarming number of SIDS cases in Lake County,’’ said Susanne Heinzman, Saint Anthony clinical nurse specialist and student liaison, who coordinates educational projects with Purdue’s Senior Capstone Course in Nursing. Statistics show the county had 15 SIDS cases in 2007, eight of which were related to bed sharing; 18 in 2008, five of which were related to bed sharing; and 11 through June of this year, six of which were related to bed sharing and one that was caused by an infant sleeping face down. Results are pending on the remaining four reports.
“That is way too many cases and this year’s totals are only through June,’’ Heinzman said. “Even one is too many.’’

The “By Myself’’ local ingredient was added to the national “Back to Sleep’’ effort by Dr. Janice Zunich of the Lake County Fatality Review Committee, a pediatrician who also is director of the Indiana University Northwest genetics clinic in Gary. The student project came about after Heinzman contacted Zunich for information about the effort. Bereavement nurse Cassandra Bass co-directed the Saint Anthony portion of the program with Heinzman.

The students, Christina Pierzchalski of Crown Point, Amanda Kelley of Chesterton, Kathleen Hudson of Schererville and Carrie Tomko of Munster, chose the project from among four that were suggested and worked with Purdue instructor Gail Wegner, an associate professor of nursing at the Hammond campus.

They recently presented their proposal at Saint Anthony to a wide-ranging group of representatives of area health care and child health agencies, educators, insurance providers and state and county officials, in hopes of them, in turn, recommending the recently formed NW Indiana Patient Safety Coalition adopt and implement the campaign. The coalitions’ members represent all of Northwest Indiana’s hospitals and have supported the wristband initiative and other standards in their effort to put competition aside to help improve patient well-being.

The students, who are graduating in December, have spent their final 16 weeks working on the “Back to Sleep’’ program. Each of them presented a portion of the project report at the meeting.
Besides the Lake County statistics, they discussed risk factors for SIDS, the importance of having infants securely positioned on their backs and alone (although room sharing is supported), the dangers of not following the program’s recommendations and the importance of educating parents and other caregivers, as well as health professionals.

“We are excited to share this project and feel the program will be a success to help educate parents, relatives and hospital staffs,’’ Tomko said, reflecting the students’ goal.

Following the presentation, which was applauded by those in attendance, Bass told the group, “What we’re talking about is true change that is evidence-based. The power is right there at the bedside. Nurses can influence patients by what we do and hopefully put an end to these deaths.’’
Heinzman added, “We have the responsibility to act on what the students said today. The data supports it.’’

Reached later, Dr. David Milen, patient safety coalition executive director, who also is manager of safety and security for Saint Margaret Mercy hospitals in Hammond and in Dyer, said he would support the students’ project. “Obviously, the program that could be established and collaborated with PUC students and the Northwest Indiana region would be beneficial to all families with infants and the community as a whole. This effort brought forth by the students would be a benefit for positive social change within communities and further provide awareness on how to place an end to these deaths.’’

ABOUT SIDS
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, the nation’s leading cause of infant deaths, is described as the unexplained sudden death of a child under age 1.

WHO IS MOST AT RISK?
* Infants aged 2 to 4 months; males have a higher risk.
* Infants who share a bed with caregivers.
* Infants who sleep on their sides or belly.
* Infants who are surrounded by extra (and soft) bedding, clothing, toys or wedges.
* Infants who are exposed to tobacco smoke.
* Infants who are given a bottle instead of a pacifier at bedtime.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
* The national “Back to Sleep’’ effort, begun in 1994, is supported by the Maryland-based Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Since the program was launched, the number of SIDS cases has declined by more than 50 percent.
* Adding the local “By Myself” component seeks to further reduce the number of infant deaths by eliminating bed sharing.