191.711. Education publications to be prepared, contents--distribution.
Education publications to be prepared, contents--distribution.
191.711. 1. The department of health and senior services shall, byDecember 31, 2009, prepare written educational publications containinginformation about the possible complications, proper care and supportassociated with newborn infants who are born premature at earlier thanthirty-seven weeks gestational age. The written information, at a minimum,shall include the following:
(1) The unique health issues affecting infants born premature, suchas:
(a) Increased risk of developmental problems;
(b) Nutritional challenges;
(c) Infection;
(d) Chronic lung disease (bronchopulmonary dysplasia);
(e) Vision and hearing impairment;
(f) Breathing problems;
(g) Fine motor skills;
(h) Feeding;
(i) Maintaining body temperature;
(j) Jaundice;
(k) Hyperactivity;
(l) Infant mortality as well as long-term complications associatedwith growth and nutrition;
(m) Reading, writing, mathematics, and speaking; and
(n) Respiratory;
(2) The proper care needs of premature infants, developmentalscreenings and monitoring and health care services available to prematureinfants through the MO HealthNet program and other public or private healthprograms;
(3) Methods, vaccines, and other preventative measures to protectpremature infants from infectious diseases, including viral respiratoryinfections;
(4) The emotional and financial burdens and other challenges thatparents and family members of premature infants experience and informationabout community resources available to support them.
2. The publications shall be written in clear language to educateparents of premature infants across a variety of socioeconomic statuses.The department may consult with community organizations that focus onpremature infants or pediatric health care. The department shall updatethe publications every two years.
3. The department shall distribute these publications to children'shealth providers, maternal care providers, hospitals, public healthdepartments, and medical organizations and encourage those organizations toprovide the publications to parents or guardians of premature infants.
(L. 2009 H.B. 716 § 191.1130)