March 2022
Texas Perinatal Services News
Texas Perinatal Services Provides Recommendations for Maternal and Neonatal Designation Rules
Texas Perinatal Services provided feedback to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) regarding Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 133, Subchapter K, Hospital Level of Care Designations for Maternal Care and the Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 133, Subchapter J, concerning Hospital Level of Care Designations for Neonatal Care.

Texas Perinatal Services submitted two separate letters with recommendations for each rule that we believe will further enhance maternal and neonatal care in Texas. The rules remain in the comment period and further discussion will take place during the Perinatal Advisory Council (PAC) meeting on March 30 at 9:00 a.m. (See PAC article below for further details.) The rules go into effect in August 2022.
SAVE THE DATE: Texas Perinatal Forum Will be March 30
Texas Perinatal Services is pleased to offer its Texas Perinatal Forum as an exclusive benefit for current hospital customers. The next forum will be on March 30 at 2:00 p.m. CST.

This month, Kristin Owen BSN, RNC-NIC from Houston Methodist West will present on, "Preventing Neonatal Hypothermia: One NICU’s Journey to Provide Unparalleled Care to Tiny Patients."

We hope our hospital partners can join us on March 30 for our Texas Perinatal Forum. Please register to attend the forum by clicking the button below.
TETAF Earns Approval as a Provider of Nursing Continuing Professional Development by the Louisiana State Nurses Association
TETAF has been approved for another three years as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Louisiana State Nurses Association. This means TETAF and Texas Perinatal Services can continue to provide educational opportunities to help our maternal and neonatal stakeholders earn the continuing education credits they need.

TETAF would like to thank Rosie Bolenbacher, MSN, TCRN, RN for her hard work and diligence in ensuring TETAF can provide important and beneficial educational opportunities for our stakeholders.
Texas Perinatal Services Proudly Sponsors the TCHMB 2022 Summit
Texas Perinatal Services once again proudly sponsored the 2022 Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers and Babies (TCHMB) Summit. This year's event was virtual for the second year in a row. If you missed the Summit, TCHMB has recordings from the event on its website.

Texas Perinatal Services will continue to support opportunities, such as the TCHMB Summit, that provide perinatal learning experiences in Texas.
Texas Intermittent Auscultation Collaborative (TIAC) to Host Post-Planning Phase Webinar
The Texas Intermittent Auscultation Collaborative (TIAC) is a joint project planned by Texas Perinatal Services, the Institute for Perinatal Quality Improvement, and Primary Maternity Care to increase the safe use of intermittent auscultation (IA). The project targets hospitals and birth centers in Texas, with a goal of being a replicable model for other collaboratives.

TIAC was awarded a grant by the Yellow Chair Foundation for a three month planning project to develop a statewide, multi-facility collaborative. Due to surges in the COVID-19 pandemic, the timeline was extended to April 2022.

Since the grant was first awarded, TIAC has conducted two information sessions for hospitals and birth centers to learn more about IA, TIAC, and the project. Additionally, stakeholder interviews are ongoing and provide valuable perspective on the use of IA in Texas. TIAC is looking for hospitals and birth centers in rural and urban areas of Texas to participate. If your facility has a strong interest in cesarean prevention, strengthening IA practices, or increasing the choice for physiologic birth, please take a few moments to fill out our survey.

In April, TIAC will complete its planning phase of the grant project and will host a one-hour webinar, "Insights for Safe and Successful Implementation of Intermittent Auscultation" on April 5, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. CST that will provide an in-depth summary of what was learned and helpful tips for hospitals considering implementation of IA.
Dates Set for 2022 TETAF Board of Directors Quarterly Meetings
The remaining quarterly meetings of the TETAF Board of Directors have been scheduled for 2022 and the dates are as follows: 

  • TETAF Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting, May 23, 2022, 5:00 p.m., TBD in Austin
  • TETAF Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting, August 16, 2022, 5:00 p.m., TBD in Austin
  • TETAF Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting, December 8, 2022, 10:00 a.m., TBD in San Antonio
  • TETAF General Assembly Meeting, December 8, 2022, 1:00 p.m., TBD in San Antonio

TETAF is planning for these meetings to be in-person and the specific locations will be announced soon. Visit the TETAF website for updates on upcoming board meetings.
Maternal and Neonatal News
Perinatal Advisory Council to Continue Discussion on Maternal and Neonatal Designation Rules on March 30
The Perinatal Advisory Council (PAC) will discuss the maternal and neonatal rule revision updates during its next meeting on March 30 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. View the agenda and join the meeting virtually from the PAC webpage.

During the February 7 meeting of the PAC, the council discussed the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Strategic Review of the maternal and neonatal rules. DSHS concluded that the maternal and neonatal rules are consistent with national requirements. For more information about this review and other items discussed during the February 7 meeting, view the meeting on the Texas Health and Human Services website.
Texas Department of State Health Services Seeks to fill Perinatal Designation Coordinator Positions
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is seeking candidates for perinatal designation coordinator positions. This position works in the Designation Unit with the Maternal and Neonatal Levels of Care Designation program.

Work includes:

  • Assisting stakeholders with understanding rules and compliance requirements.
  • Participating in validation surveys at facilities (both virtual and on-site).
  • Performing desk reviews of facility application packets for maternal and neonatal levels of care.
  • Performing on-site limited surveys and evaluations identifying compliance and non-compliance with program rules, along with other duties.
Texas Perinatal Services' Partner Hospital, Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center, Named to Solutions for Patient Safety's Shine Report
McLane Children’s Medical Center in Temple made the Solutions for Patient Safety’s Shine Report. The team met the three required benchmarks.

McLane had .56 central line bloodstream infections (CLABSI) per 1,000 central line days, roughly half the rate of the benchmark of 1.07. The hospital recorded just .182 unplanned extubations per 1,000 patient days, less than 20 percent of the .95 target. To make the Shine Report, hospitals needed to record fewer than .04 pressure injuries per 1,000 patient days. None were recorded at McLane during the three-year cycle.

Out of 148 children’s hospitals participating, just 20 made the Shine Report.
Maternal and Neonatal News in Texas
Has Your Hospital Had Staff Changes?
If your hospital has had recent staff changes within your maternal, neonatal, or leadership departments, please share those updates with us by emailing Jennifer Anderson at janderson@tetaf.org.