National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program Recognizes Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital

Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital (LCRH) was recently recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as a Silver Level National Infant Safe Sleep Certified Hospital for their commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids®, a national infant safe sleep organization.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Cribs for Kids is dedicated to preventing infant sleep-related deaths due to SUID and accidental suffocation. As a nationally certified safe sleep hospital, Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital is recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and providing training programs for healthcare team members, as well as family caregivers.

“Sleep-Related Death (SRD) results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the U.S.,” said Michael H. Goodstein, M.D., neonatologist and medical director of research at Cribs for Kids®. “We know that modeling safe infant sleep in the hospital and providing education to families has a significant effect on infant mortality. Cribs for Kids Hospital Certification Program is designed to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths.”

" Our goal is to provide the best service to mothers, infants, and their families in our hospital and give them the tools and education needed to thrive once they are discharged home,” said Elizabeth Garland, BSN, RN, CLC, Director of Women’s and Children’s Services. “I'm immensely proud of our team for achieving this accreditation. It speaks volumes about their unwavering dedication and commitment to providing exceptional care for our patients."

The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created in partnership with leading infant health and safety organizations such as All Baby & Child, The National Center for the Review & Prevention of Child Deaths, Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs, Kids in Danger, Children’s Safety Network, American SIDS Institute, Charlie’s Kids, CJ Foundation for SIDS, and numerous state American Academy of Pediatric chapters and health departments.

Tanya Nelson-Hackey, Chief Nursing Officer at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, stated, “Our commitment to the safety and well-being of every mother and child we serve is paramount. Achieving the Cribs for Kids Safe Sleep Accreditation reaffirms our dedication to providing a nurturing and secure environment for families in our care. We are proud to be recognized for our efforts in promoting safe sleep practices and ensuring peaceful nights for our little ones."

According to Judith A. Bannon, Executive Director and Founder for Cribs for Kids®, “The certification program launched in 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA, home of the Cribs for Kids® national headquarters. Hundreds of hospitals across the US are certified. We welcome Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital to this expanding group of committed hospitals. This will have a profound effect on saving babies’ lives.”

For more information on the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program, visit https://cribsforkids.org/hospitalcertification/