Press Release
November 3, 2005

As the Number of Premature Births Rise, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children Is at Forefront of Providing Specialized Care to Improve Quality of Life

March of Dimes Prematurity Awareness Day on November 15th to Feature St. Mary’s

NEW YORK , NOV. 3, 2005 -- In an effort to raise awareness of the growing problem of premature birth, St. Mary’s Health Care System for Children is joining the March of Dimes to highlight the consequences of premature birth and how specifically designed programs, such as those at St. Mary’s, can help babies who survive premature birth to live longer and better lives.

Government statistics show that premature birth (defined as less than 37 weeks gestation) is the number one killer of newborns and a major cause of serious health problems in the United States. Nearly half a million babies are born prematurely every year and the number continues to rise. In 2003, the most recent year for which data is available, 12.3 percent of newborns in the U.S. were born prematurely.

Preterm infants, particularly those born very prematurely (less than 32 weeks), face a greater risk of medical complications and long-term disabilities such as chronic lung and heart disease, developmental and speech delay, and feeding disorders that require specialized care and support for months, and often years, after they are born.

In New York State, where the rate of premature births is just under the national average, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children has been one of the pioneers of programs specifically designed to help premature infants to live longer and better lives. While technological and medical advances have enabled children to survive who otherwise would have died in utero or shortly after birth, many of these frail, under-developed infants need continuing medical care long after they are stabilized in hospital neo-natal intensive care units.

The March of Dimes, which has designated November 15 as national Prematurity Awareness Day, will bring celebrities, civic and corporate leaders, maternal and child health experts, and parents to St. Mary’s that day to talk about infant death and long-term disability caused by premature birth and what is being done to address it. The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign seeks to help the nation reach the goal set by the U.S. Public Health Service of reducing the rate of premature birth from 12.3 percent to 7.6 percent by 2010.

“St. Mary’s treats an increasing number of tiny infants who require long-term care for the complications of premature birth,” said Dr. Burton Grebin, CEO of St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children. “In fact, 60 percent of the infants in our nursery were born premature. Given these trends, we at St. Mary’s are constantly exploring new ways to help children and their families overcome the health and developmental challenges often caused by prematurity.”

“Prematurity is the leading cause of death in the first month of life and has now reached epidemic proportions in our country,” says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “The consequences for the survivors of premature birth can be devastating. These babies often face life-long disabilities such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and chronic lung problems. Our objective for Prematurity Awareness Day is to send a wake-up call that all babies need a full nine months of pregnancy in order to be born healthy.”

As New York’s largest provider of post-acute and long-term health care for children, St Mary’s treats complications of prematurity through:

In-Patient Post-Acute Care : Babies born very prematurely (under 32 weeks) often stay in neonatal intensive care units in the hospital at which they were born. Once stabilized, some babies still need medical care that can be provided in a facility like St. Mary’s at a lower cost than at most hospitals.

Early Intervention Therapy : St. Mary’s helps to identify and address developmental delays by providing occupational, physical, and speech therapy. St. Mary’s also launched a new Center for Pediatric Feeding Disorders, which has been successful in helping toddlers learn to eat after long periods of time on a feeding tube or resolving health and behavioral problems that can arise from being born with a digestive system that is not yet fully formed.

Home Care : As the first provider in New York State of home care for children, St. Mary’s provides a wide range of medical care for children and their families in their own homes. This approach saves money, reduces strains on the health care system, and, most importantly, helps to ensure a smooth transition for families caring for infants and toddlers facing health and developmental challenges from premature birth.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site at nacersano.org.