Providence Swedish is named a Center of Excellence for Perinatal Substance Abuse care

We are very proud to share that Providence Swedish has been recognized as a leader in addressing the complex health needs of pregnant people with substance use disorders.

The Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Hospital Association and Washington Health Care Authority have certified Providence Swedish's First Hill campus as a Center of Excellence for Perinatal Substance Use. 

“Our teams at First Hill and Ballard do an amazing job in this space and we are so proud that they are being recognized for what they do every day for our patients,” said Pat Patton, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer for Providence Swedish’s Central Puget Sound Service Area (which includes the First Hill, Cherry Hill, Issaquah, Ballard and  Redmond campuses). “I also want to thank our leaders, including our nurses, physicians, Certified Nurse Midwives, doulas and others in Maternal and Fetal Care for all the hard work they do every day to make this Center of Excellence a reality."

“Hospitals certified as Centers of Excellence for Perinatal Substance Use are improving birth outcomes and saving lives,” said Michele Roberts, Assistant Secretary for Prevention and Community Health, Department of Health. “They’re leaders in providing equitable care that centers the needs of babies and families.”

Centers of Excellence follow these best practices:

• Everyone who gives birth at the hospital is verbally screened for substance use disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, and depression.
• A health care provider who can manage medications that treat opioid use disorder is on-site or on-call.
• The birth parent and infant room together unless one of them must be in an intensive care unit.
• The hospital supports breast/chest feeding for parents who are on medication to treat opioid use disorder.
• The hospital requires the use of non-pharmacological interventions as the first line of treatment for withdrawal symptoms in infants.
• The hospital care team is familiar with current guidelines for notifying and reporting to child welfare services, including having family-centered dialog about what to expect.
• A care coordination system is in place to ensure patients schedule postpartum appointments before they leave the hospital.
• OB providers and nurses receive education on respectful and equitable care for pregnant and postpartum people with substance use disorders. 

For more information about the Centers of Excellence for Perinatal Substance Use certification program, contact DOH-PIO@doh.wa.gov.  

About the Author

There's a reason why more babies are born at Swedish every year than any other health system in western Washington - bringing babies into this world is our mission. The Swedish Pregnancy & Childbirth Team is committed to giving you relevant and actionable insights on how to care for yourself and your child as you navigate the trimesters of your pregnancy.

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