University of Utah Health is proud to announce the official designation of the nation’s first Stillbirth Center of Excellence, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to reducing the burden of stillbirth in the United States. The announcement was made during the Stillbirth Equity Symposium and IMPROVE Workshop, held in Salt Lake City from October 11-14, 2024. This gathering of experts and advocates focused on addressing disparities in stillbirth outcomes and advancing prevention efforts across the country and beyond.
A Center of Excellence for public health brings together leading experts to drive transformative change in critical areas. At the Stillbirth Center of Excellence at U of U Health, the focus is squarely on advancing 研究, 改善临床护理, 支援受影响家庭, and reshaping public understanding of stillbirth.
每年在美国, 大约24,000个婴儿死产, a devastating loss that affects thousands of families. This means that, on average, one in every 160 pregnancies ends in stillbirth. Additionally, stillbirth disproportionately impacts families of color. The effects of this loss ripple through families and communities, highlighting the urgent need for prevention, 研究, 和支持.
A Bold Vision for Change: 10-Year Goals
The Stillbirth Center of Excellence at U of U Health has set ambitious goals over the next decade to lead the nation in stillbirth prevention and 护理, in partnership with passionate allies in 研究, 临床护理, 以及家长的支持. 这些目标包括：
- 切断美国.S. 死胎率减半.
- 减少美国的种族差异.S. 死胎率降低50%.
- Doubling the proportion of affected U.S. families receiving comprehensive bereavement 支持.
- 确保至少75%的美国.S. stillbirths undergo comprehensive perinatal audits and evaluations to determine potential causes.
- Bringing stillbirth out of the shadows by changing cultural norms and increasing public awareness.
- 定位U.S. as a global leader in stillbirth prevention, 护理, 和研究, impacting both low- and high-income settings worldwide.
Priorities of the Stillbirth Center of Excellence
To achieve these goals, the center focuses on five key priorities:
- 研究: Leading cutting-edge studies to better understand the causes of stillbirth and develop evidence-based prevention strategies, including whole genome sequencing and investigating causes of decreased fetal movement.
- 临床护理: Improving standards of 护理 for families experiencing stillbirth, from prevention to diagnosis to treatment through the Utah Pregnancy After Loss (U-PAL) Program.
- 教育: Training health 护理 providers and educating the public on stillbirth risks, prevention, and 护理.
- 为家属大发娱乐提供的丧亲支援： Doubling efforts to ensure that families affected by stillbirth receive compassionate, effective 支持 in their time of loss, including peer-to-peer family 支持 and mental health resources.
- 正义: 解决社会问题, 种族, and economic disparities in stillbirth rates, ensuring that every family has equitable access to high-quality 护理 和支持.
“This designation represents a critical turning point in the fight to prevent stillbirth 和支持 affected families,” 鲍勃·希尔，医学博士, co-director of the Stillbirth Center of Excellence at U of U Health and chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah. 通过促进合作, 研究, 和教育, we are poised to make significant strides not just in the U.S. 但在全球范围内. Our vision is to lead the world in stillbirth prevention, 支持, 和研究, driving positive change in all health 护理 settings.”
The Stillbirth Center of Excellence is unique in its comprehensive approach to family 支持, offering peer-to-peer networks that connect families with others who have experienced 怀孕 loss. 除了, the center incorporates mental health resources for individuals and families, addressing the emotional and psychological impacts of stillbirth and 怀孕 loss.
“Our commitment extends far beyond the immediate loss,” 苏珊娜（赞）雷舍尔， 博士学位, co-director of the Stillbirth Center of Excellence at U of U Health and a stillbirth parent herself. “The journey of healing continues long after stillbirth or 怀孕 loss. That’s why the Center of Excellence, through our Utah Pregnancy After Loss (U-PAL) Program, offers ongoing peer-to-peer 支持 and mental health resources. Families need 支持 for the emotional and psychological toll that follows 怀孕 loss, sometimes for months or even years afterward. By connecting them with others who have walked this path and providing long-term mental health 护理, we can help to ensure they are never alone in their healing process.”