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INFORMATION FOR HEALTH
CARE PROVIDERS WHAT
IS THE HEALTHY START PRENATAL SCREEN? Florida’s
Healthy Start Prenatal Risk Screening Instrument is
a simple, brief questionnaire that helps identify factors in a
pregnant woman’s life and environment (both medical and
psychosocial) that might lead to poor pregnancy outcomes such as low
birth weight, premature birth, fetal/infant death, or developmental
delays of the child. WHO
HAS TO BE SCREENED? Florida
State Statute, 383.14 (FAC 64-C), in existence since 1991, states “The health care provider
delivering prenatal services shall assure that a prenatal risk
screening instrument is completed and risk status is determined at
every pregnant woman’s initial visit.” WHAT
IS THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER’S ROLE? 1.
Make sure every pregnant woman is offered the
confidential Prenatal Risk Screen.
Approach the screening in a positive manner and be available
to answer questions and correct any misinformation about Healthy
Start she may have. The
top and bottom portions of the record must be completed. Give
the patient the brochure entitled, “Healthy Start Prenatal Risk
Screening” (available in English and Spanish).
2.
Encourage every pregnant woman to consent to and answer the
screening questions. This
is voluntary. Completion
of the questions provides the prenatal care provider with excellent
information that will help tailor prenatal care.
It assesses potential risks which may allow a woman to have
Healthy Start services. Completion
of these questions also helps bring in additional funding to 3.
Encourage every pregnant woman or new mother to participate
in Healthy Start when her answers indicate she is at high risk (a
score of 6 or more) or when you think she could benefit from Healthy
Start services (please see list of eligibility requirements for
referral to Healthy Start in next section).
Healthy Start services are for pregnant women who are at risk
for an unhealthy pregnancy or baby.
Healthy Start services are not income based.
Healthy Start is not a government program.
Healthy Start has no affiliation with Department of
Children and Families (DCF). HOW
DO I FILL IN AND SCORE THE SCREEN? Instructions
for completing and scoring the screen are listed on the back pages
of the screening form: the
white page explains how to complete the screen, the pink
page explains how to score. Send
the screen to the Sarasota County Health Department within 5 days
regardless of whether the woman has consented to answer the
questions or agreed to participate in Healthy Start.
If the woman has answered the questions and agreed to
participate, she will be contacted by the Healthy Start Program and
offered services based on her level of risk.
Please do not wait for an ultrasound test to determine EDD.
Use Nägeles Method. WHAT
DO I DO WITH THE FORM WHEN IT’S COMPLETED? First,
take the opportunity to discuss the findings with the patient.
At this time, the Healthy Start Program in Give
the patient the green copy, put the pink copy on the chart, and send
the white and yellow copies within 5 days to:
Sarasota County Health Department, Healthy Start Program, (If
at anytime during the pregnancy risk factors emerge, a referral can
be made to Healthy Start by calling 861-2905.) WHAT
DOES “HIGH RISK” MEAN? Environmental
risk factors include physical, social or economic factors in an
individual’s life that increase risk for having or developing a
health or health-related problem.
Risk factors on the prenatal screen are proven by research to
increase risks for poor birth outcomes. Risk
factors on the screen include: age, race, marital status, education, weight, inability to
keep appointments, frequent moves, domestic violence, sexual abuse,
hunger, tobacco, alcohol, or drug use, unwanted pregnancy, previous
pregnancy problems or loss of baby, maternal illness, and late entry
into prenatal care. A
score on the screen of 6 or more indicates the pregnant woman is at
risk for a poor birth outcome, and is automatically referred to
Healthy Start with her consent. The
Healthy Start Program in
1.
prior
fetal or infant loss 2. complicated medical conditions impacting pregnancy, including HIV+,
Hepatitis
B+, thyroid or cardiac diseases, hypertension, diabetes, etc.
3.
current
substance use – tobacco, drugs, or alcohol.
4.
severe
depression, active mental illness, or post-partum depression.
5.
need
breastfeeding classes or post-partum breastfeeding support.
6.
current
abuse or neglect in the home.
7.
homelessness WHAT
ARE HEALTHY START SERVICES? Healthy
Start services include care coordination and referrals for
wraparound services for pregnant women and parents of children up to
the age of three, such as pre/interconception education,
psychosocial counseling, smoking cessation programs, childbirth
education, breastfeeding education and support, nutrition
counseling, and parenting education. Referrals are also made to
appropriate agencies for food, clothing, baby items, etc.
WILL
THE HEALTHY START PROGRAM CONTACT ME ABOUT THE PATIENT? The
Healthy Start Care Coordinator for your patient will send you a
letter with information about the client’s acceptance or refusal
of the program. The Care
Coordinator may also call you if she is concerned about the
client’s attendance at prenatal care appointments or is having
difficulty locating the client.
This personal health information sharing is allowed
under HIPAA. The Care
Coordinator will call you if she has any other concerns. WHAT
IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HEALTHY START COALITION AND THE
HEALTHY START PROGRAM? The
Healthy Start Coalition of
The
Healthy Start Program of
the Sarasota County Health Department is our sub-contractor for Care
Coordination services and data management.
Care Coordination is the key to service provision for Healthy
Start clients. A highly
qualified staff of Registered Nurses, Licensed Clinical Social
Workers, and Family Support Workers assure that each client’s
needs are addressed. The Healthy Start Program phone number 941-861-2905. HOW
CAN THE HEALTHY START COALITION HELP ME? The
Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County provides technical
assistance and monitors quality on an ongoing basis.
Any time you have a question or need to train a new employee,
call the Coalition at 373-7070. Coalition
staff stays in contact with prenatal care providers through mailings
and visits to discuss new information and ideas with the office
staff. The following
data about your practice is available for your review: Screening Rates: the number of screens
offered by the provider per quarter, the rates range for all
providers in the county, the number of women consenting to the
screen, and the number of your patients participating in Healthy
Start.
Click Here For Prenatal Risk Screening Form
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