The state of Texas has recently awarded Seton Hospitals with the first annual “Quality Award” for their extremely successful push to reduce birth injuries. Seton was the only hospital in the state to receive the award.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission presented Seton with the award after the family of hospitals reported the lowest birth injury rate in the nation. Seton stated that their efforts to reduce birth trauma included limited use of forceps and vacuum extractors, as well as limiting elective inductions before 39 weeks.
In 2003, Seton Hospitals reported 3 birth injuries per 1,000 live births. In 2007, the rate had fallen to .2 birth injuries per 1,000 live births. The commission confirms that Seton’s success continues.
Health and Human Services Commissioner Thomas Suehs (left) commented on Seton and their accomplishment:
“We’re proud to recognize Seton for this accomplishment because it shows how good medicine is also good public policy. This initiative leads to healthier babies, and it also saves money for taxpayers by reducing the number of Medicaid births with complications.”
Of the award, commission spokeswoman Stephanie Goodman said:
“It’s a way for us to highlight best practices that we’d like to see replicated across the state.”
Birth Injury Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia
If your child is a victim of a birth injury that you believe was caused by medical malpractice or delivery room negligence, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. If you have any questions regarding your legal rights, feel free to call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
For those patients that are wheelchair bound, there are certain helpful recommendations for proper repositioning. An attempt should be made, by the patient, to move every 15 minutes. Nursing home staff should help assist with larger changes every hour. 
As data from studies shows the possible correlation between Topamax and cleft lip, the FDA states that there will be a stronger label on the product. The pregnancy category of the drug has been changed. The warning will now show Topamax in category D, as opposed to its former spot in category C. There has been positive evidence of fetal risk in human beings, which is the reason for the change of category.
The protocol system, called Code-D, reduced the occurences of infant brachial plexus injury (Erb’s Palsy) caused by shoulder dystocia (when a baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone by 26%, according to study reports presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine annual meeting. 
Frequent changes in the patient’s positioning is supreme in the prevention of painful and potentially fatal bed sores or pressure ulcers. But repositioning offers no benefits if it’s not done properly. The nursing home caregivers must make sure that repositioning avoids stress on the skin. The nursing home staff must also make sure that vulnerable areas, such as knees, ankles, and hips are carefully placed. It is also important to regularly inspect the skin for the slightest irritation that can lead to a bed sore. 
Women frequently use Topamax because they are much more likely to suffer from severe migraine headaches as opposed to their male counterparts. In fact, women are three times more likely than men to encounter migraines. Women who are looking to become pregnant face an additional risk. In their childbearing years, the likelihood of headaches increases yet again, making women of this age extremely vulnerable. Therefore, it is quite understandable that many women would turn to a well respected product, such as Topamax, to alleviate pain. The problem that has now surfaced is that Topamax has been linked to certain birth defects such as cleft lip or cleft palate. Although Topamax is a proven commodity that deals well with ailments such as epilepsy and migraines, the risk of potential birth defects in pregnant women may lead them to search for alternatives. The FDA and birth defect lawyers both agree, Topamax should not be prescribed for pregnant women in most cases.
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As attorneys with expertise in the area of