Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) is a group of heart defects that cause serious, life-threatening symptoms and require intervention within the first days or first year of life.
CCHD is often treatable if detected early, and the babies can live longer, healthier lives.
Conway Medical Center http://www.conwaymedicalcenter.com/ has been awarded a $1,800 grant from The Emerson Rose Heart Foundation. www.emersonroseheartfoundation.org/ This grant money was used to purchase additional pulse oximeters, which will be used to test for CCHD.
According to The Emerson Rose Foundation, CCHD's are the most common birth defect today, and the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths. Using pulse oximetry, a painless, non-invasive test, CMC staff will be able to measure how much oxygen is in the newborn's blood. This can help determine babies born with CCHD.
According to Jean Burleson, director of maternal child health, "Early detection is critical for infants with congenital heart defects. By being able to test, those infants affected can receive earlier interventions that could save their lives."
The mission of the Emerson Rose Heart Foundation is to help babies who are born with CCHD's through supporting research efforts focused on innovative methods of treatment, prevention and diagnosis. The foundation also supports parents while they are preparing for and caring for a child with a CCHD.
