BLOOMINGTON– IU Health Bloomington and IU Health Paoli Hospital were recognized on Thursday, March 6, by the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA), in partnership with the State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP, for their commitment to infant and maternal health at the fifth annual INspire Hospital of Distinction recognition program. INspire, funded by the Indiana Department of Health’s Safety PIN grant, was developed to implement the delivery of best practice care for Hoosier moms and babies and recognize hospitals for excellence in addressing key drivers of infant and maternal health.
IU Health Bloomington earned an INspire Hospital of Distinction recognition and IU Health Paoli Hospital earned an INspire Category of Excellence recognition based on implementing the best practices in key areas, including infant safe sleep, breastfeeding, perinatal substance use, social drivers of health, obstetric hemorrhage, and maternal hypertension.
IU Health Bloomington Perinatal and Pediatric Services Director Nikki Benich, RN, said, “We are deeply honored to receive the INspire award from the Indiana Hospital Association. This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of mothers and infants in our community. Our dedicated team has worked tirelessly on initiatives such as infant safe sleep, breastfeeding support, addressing perinatal substance use, implementing AIM safety bundles and tackling social determinants of health. Together, we are making a significant impact and ensuring a healthier future for our families.”
“The INspire award is recognition of the work we do every day to make sure we are providing the best care to our patients,” said IU Health Paoli Hospital Adult Obstetrics Unit Clinical Manager Whitney Zapien, RN. “Our team is dedicated to implementing best practices to ensure our moms and babies are healthy in our rural community.”
“The Indiana Department of Health remains focused on working with healthcare providers to improve outcomes for Hoosier moms and babies,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, MD, FACEP. “We are grateful to have hospitals across the state support initiatives, such as the Indiana Perinatal Levels of Care and obstetrical emergencies training, that have contributed to improvements in both maternal and infant health.”
For the first time in the program’s history, 100% of Indiana’s birthing facilities earned one of two INspire recognitions, reinforcing the progress made in improving the key drivers of maternal and infant health.
“Indiana hospitals are grateful for the leadership of Dr. Weaver and her team for their continued partnership to address the critical issue of infant and maternal mortality,” said IHA President Scott B. Tittle. “We are proud to celebrate the Hoosier facilities that have successfully demonstrated these best practices and how far our state has come in the five years since the launch of INspire. Together, we are truly making a difference.”
Indiana Hospital Association serves as the professional trade association for more than 170 acute care, critical access, behavioral health, and other specialized hospitals in Indiana.
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