South Miami Hospital Lights Up Purple in November for Prematurity Awareness Month

South Miami Hospital’s campus is lit up purple in honor of Prematurity Awareness Month. Each year in the U.S., one of every ten babies is born premature (less than 37 weeks). Premature birth is the second leading cause of newborn death, and many babies who survive face serious health problems. South Miami Hospital’s Center for Women & Infants joins organizations around the world to raise awareness and educate expectant mothers about premature birth and the factors that contribute to it, including genetics, smoking, nutrition and limited access to prenatal care.

In October 2013, South Miami Hospital was the ninth hospital in the U.S. to earn The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for prematurity. This certification demonstrates that the Center for Women & Infants meets rigorous national standards of care specific to the needs of premature babies. The Gold Seal of Approval was awarded after Joint Commission surveyors conducted an on-site evaluation that addressed five core areas: program management, clinical care, supporting self-management, clinical information management and performance measurement.

The Center for Women & Infants is home to Level II and III neonatal intensive care units, where highly-specialized teams cares for premature or sick newborns. More than 4,600 babies are born each year at the Center.

“Our highly skilled team of doctors, specialists and nurses are committed to providing the highest level of quality care to our tiniest patients,” said Denise Woods, R.N., vice president of the Center for Women & Infants. “Lighting up purple this month is one small way to shine the light on prematurity and show support and compassion for the families who have experienced preterm birth.”

The Center for Women & Infants also provides a vast array of comprehensive services for women, such as Maternity services, including specialized care for high-risk pregnancies and unborn babies; infertility and reproductive medicine; gynecological health, including minimally-invasive robotic surgery and fibroid and cancer treatment; breast health; and diagnostic testing, including digital mammography to detect breast cancer and fetal MRI to detect problems in unborn babies.

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