DeTar Hospital North Earns Texas Ten Step Program Designation

3/2/2018

DeTar Hospital North has taken a giant step towards improving the health of newborns and infants by earning the Texas Ten Step Program facility designation from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

The Texas Ten Step Program encourages breastfeeding as the preferred method of feeding for newborns and infants. DeTar Hospital North joins a growing number of Texas birth facilities that are supporting new mothers and their decision to breastfeed.

Based on the World Health Organization (WHO)/ UNICEF’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, the program aims to assist birth facility’s support of breastfeeding mothers before, during, and after delivery; encourages them to identify breastfeeding resources for the mother after she is discharged; and assists facilities in improving on national performance measures such as the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Breastfeeding Report Card. The goal of the Texas Ten Step Program is to increase breastfeeding initiation rates to 82 percent.

Texas Ten Step facilities are asked to address 85% of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, be designated as a Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite, evaluate their breastfeeding policies, maternity care practices and educate all healthcare staff routinely with evidence-based courses.

“We have worked very hard to earn the Texas Ten Step Program designation,” said Gary Malaer, chief executive officer. “And we are proud to join the other select Texas hospitals in promoting breastfeeding to our new mothers.”

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