March of Dimes Creates Free Educational Program to BetterInform Health Care Professionals About Preterm Birth
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., SEPT. 25, 2006 – A new online curriculum that helps health professionals learn to better identify patients at risk for having a premature baby was unveiled today by the March of Dimes. The Compendium on Preterm Birth is a March of Dimes product developed in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses.
The Compendium, available at www.marchofdimes.com/preterm birth, is a comprehensive resource of clinical, epidemiological and scientific information about premature birth designed for use by obstetricians, pediatricians, nurses, advance practice nurses, family physicians, residents, and interns. The curriculum can facilitate personal learning or group presentation and will provide continuing education credits.
“Preterm birth is a complex challenge,'' said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “And with the rate of preterm birth increasing more than 30 percent in the last two decades, it's a significant public health problem. That's why we decided to provide perinatal health care professionals with tools to help them better identify the risk of premature birth in all their pregnant patients and to understand the significant public health consequences associated with this condition.''
At the completion of the program, health care professionals should be able to identify racial and ethnic disparities in preterm birth rates and public health approaches to reduce the disparity; provide appropriate, evidence-based management for patients in preterm labor; identify current areas of research addressing the issue of prematurity; and identify current legislative and advocacy activities concerning prematurity, among other skills.
Free CMEs and CEUs are provided by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP). ARHP is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health to provide CMEs for physicians and contact hours for nurses and advanced practice professionals for this curriculum.
