Early CHD Detection is Crucial
New Training Program in YunnanIn 2014, China Cal and the Kunming Medical University formed a committee to implement a new training program in Yunnan Province. Their purpose is to train all county hospital personnel in the province who are responsible for the care of newborns, teaching the doctors how to properly screen for congenital heart disease. The committee is developing a staff of trainers who will travel to rural county hospitals. They will train obstetricians, pediatricians, and nurses how to evaluate newborns using pulse oximetry and stethoscope exams. Training ObjectivesThe training will help the doctors know what to look for, such as heart murmurs. It will also equip them to proficiently use the necessary screening tools, such as stethoscopes and high quality pulse-oximeters, which should be available for their delivery rooms and neonatal wards. If an infant fails the screening exams, the doctors will also be trained on follow up steps for the baby and its parents. The goal is for each hospital to establish the long-term practice of regular screening for all their newborns so congenital heart disease can be diagnosed early. Results and PlansBy the end of 2015, training will have occurred in 5 of the 16 Yunnan prefectures. After the training, the average screening rate for these areas is about 84%, which is comparable to the rates in developed nations. The training team follows up with the hospitals to collect data and to ensure proper implementation of the training. In 2016, China Cal plans to train in 8 more prefectures. Evaluation of Training ProgramWith the help of a grant from the Chao Foundation, China Cal has added an evaluation component to their training program to assess its results. Ms. Fangqi Guo will be the principal investigator in these evaluations. She is a University of California, Irvine Program in Public Health, PhD graduate student. Fangqi will work with the China Cal team in Yunnan for several months to evaluate the increased knowledge and change in behavior of the trainees. Pilot Project for Surgical CareSince more Yunnan babies are being screened, we anticipate more cases of critical congenital heart disease being diagnosed. If the diagnosed children require surgery, then we want to help them and their parents through that process. The Chao Foundation is collaborating with China Cal in a pilot project to provide that support. All children benefiting from this project will undergo corrective surgery at KMU First Affiliate Hospital in Kunming, Yunnan Province. This pilot project will enhance the support that China Cal and one of its partner organizations (the Children's Heart Link of Minneapolis, MN) are providing to KMU to improve the quality of its care for children in Yunnan Province. First Heart Surgery in Yunnan: Rong Rong
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