Austin, Texas - (December 3, 2008) - Seton Medical Center Austin has been recognized by the State of Texas as one of the best in the state for newborn hearing screenings programs.
"Being certified as a Distinguished Newborn Hearing Screening Program, is the highest rating possible for a birthing hospital in Texas," said Sharon Perry, Director of Maternity Service, Seton Medical Center Austin. "Seton Family of Hospitals is committed to this health initiative and offers this hearing screening program at all of its birth facilities, including Seton Northwest, Seton Southwest and University Medical Center Brackenridge".
The Texas Department of State Health Services monitors hospital-based hearing screening programs to ensure specific quality benchmarks are met. To be certified, hospitals must screen newborns for hearing loss, refer those who need follow-up testing to audiologists, and inform parents and family doctors of hearing screening results. Certified hospitals have demonstrated a commitment to ensuring that those babies born with hearing loss are detected early and channeled to the best resources to get medical and educational assistance.
The Texas newborn hearing screening program is one of the largest of its kind in the world and has continually ranked as one of the best in country since being implemented in 2001 by the Texas Legislature. Nearly 400,000 babies in Texas are screened annually as a result of this program.
Seton is proud to have four hospitals – the only hospitals in Central Texas - that have earned the