Saint Luke’s East Hospital earns prestigious Missouri “Show-Me 5” Recognition from the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
LEE’S SUMMIT, MO — Saint Luke’s East Hospital has become the first in Eastern Jackson County – and 14th hospital in the state – to earn Missouri Show-Me 5 recognition from the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. The award recognizes Saint Luke’s East Hospital as a center of adoption of evidence-based maternity care practices that support breastfeeding. The hospital will receive its award from the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services during a ceremony held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 7 during the weekly lactation support group attended by several moms and babies.
“Saint Luke’s East Hospital is committed to providing the highest quality maternity care, and we are extremely proud of our hospital and maternity care team for achieving this important recognition,” said Ron Baker, CEO of Saint Luke’s East Hospital. “We are focused on helping new moms meet their breastfeeding goals, and providing an effective path to the best care practices.”
The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services designates that Missouri “Show-Me 5” hospital practices include:
• Helping mothers initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth;
• Practicing “rooming-in” and allowing infants to stay in the same room as moms;
• Giving infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated;
• Not giving pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants;
• Fostering the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge.
Saint Luke’s East Hospital underwent a review by the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services in order to receive the recognition. The program was designed in response to the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding and recognizes maternity care practices designed to support breastfeeding initiation and duration. Only 13 other hospitals in the state of Missouri have achieved this prestigious designation since 2012.
Saint Luke’s East Hospital is part of Saint Luke’s Health System, which consists of 14 area hospital locations, as well as several primary and specialty care practices, and provides a range of inpatient, outpatient, and home care services. Founded as a faith-based, not-for-profit organization, our mission includes a commitment to the highest levels of excellence in health care and the advancement of medical research and education. The health system is an aligned organization in which the physicians and hospitals assume responsibility for enhancing the physical, mental, and spiritual health of people in the metropolitan Kansas City area and the surrounding region.
