SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., ― This month, Regional West Birth and Infant Care Center recognizes newborn screening’s lifesaving impact on millions of newborn babies nationwide.

According to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), newborn screening is a public health program that tests all newborns for certain conditions that are not noticeable at birth, but may lead to serious disability or even death if not treated quickly. Blood samples are collected through a heel stick 24 to 48 hours after birth. In Nebraska, newborns are screened for over 30 conditions, including congenital heart disease, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia.

Many conditions included in newborn screening do not have obvious symptoms. However, if they are detected soon after birth, treatment can begin quickly and may help prevent more serious health problems.

“Newborn screening is an essential part of every baby’s healthcare, and we are proud to recognize its importance for all babies born at Regional West,” said Erika Carmody, RN, MSN, director of Regional West Birth and Infant Care Center and Pediatrics.

To learn more about newborn screening in Nebraska, visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Newborn-Screening-Parent-Information.aspx. For more information about Regional West Birth and Infant Care Center’s services, visit RWHS.org or call 308-630-1550.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 188-bed regional referral center and the only Level II Trauma Center in Nebraska west of Kearney. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 in-network providers and approximately 2,000 staff members, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.