The Institute for Patient Access and the National Coalition for Infant Health hosted the 2016 Infant Health Policy Summit in Washington, DC on September 15.
Health care providers, patient advocates, parents, and policy makers gathered to discuss patient access issues facing vulnerable infants and their families.
Representative Katherine Clark (D-MA), for the second year in a row, addressed attendees about congress’ work in infant and maternal health. Kelley French, an award-winning journalist, Pulitzer Prize finalist, author, and mother of a premature infant born at 23 weeks served as the keynote speaker.
Experts led discussions about:
- human milk quality and safety
- access barriers to preventative treatment for respiratory syncytial virus
- post partum depress and post traumatic stress disorder and the impact of the NICU on parents, families, and staff
- optimal maternal nutrition
Attendees received an up-to-the-minute briefing on Zika Virus from CDC’s Dr. Coleen Boyle, a key member of the Zika response task force.
“Premature infants are a fragile and often voiceless population who face serious health challenges and barriers to accessing physician recommended therapies. Their families carry a disproportionately heavy emotional and financial burden. This summit will educate policymakers and the media and bring awareness to the issues these most vulnerable babies faces.” – Mitchell Goldstein, M.D., National Coalition for Infant Health Medical Director
