Inspira Health celebrates its Mullica Hill and Woodbury locations earning Pathway to Excellence® re...
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Elmer, NJ (February 02, 2023) – Inspira Medical Center Elmer, part of Inspira Health, is proud to announce that it has achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation by Baby Friendly USA for the second consecutive term. Baby Friendly USA is the organization responsible for bestowing the Baby-Friendly designation in the U.S.
This distinguished re-designation demonstrates that Inspira Elmer adheres to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the critical first days of a newborn’s life.
“Inspira Elmer has long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns,” said Lydia Stockman, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Inspira Medical Centers. “This re-designation is a tribute to Inspira’s commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life.”
The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. In 2011, the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated that, “Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”
“The hospital experience strongly influences a mother’s ability to start and continue breastfeeding,” said Dawn Goffredo, R.N., AVP of Maternal Child Health Services, Inspira Health. “The Baby-Friendly designation shows that we are dedicated to implementing evidence-based care to ensure that families entrusting their care to Inspira Health are fully supported, regardless of whether they intend to breastfeed, or cannot or choose not to breastfeed.”
Inspira Elmer joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, of which less than 600 sites are located in the United States. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.
About Baby-Friendly USA As the accrediting body and national authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the United States, Baby-Friendly USA is responsible for upholding the highest standards in infant feeding care by coordinating and conducting all activities necessary to confer the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation and ensure the widespread adoption of the BFHI in the US. Learn more about Baby-Friendly USA and the BFHI at www.babyfriendlyusa.org.
