Community Health Network hosts Infant Mortality Summit

More than one hundred health, civic, community leaders collaborate to save Hoosier babies

Indianapolis--Indiana’s babies are dying at a higher rate than the national average. Community Health Network hosted an Infant Mortality Summit Thursday to bring together the health, civic and community leaders to collaborate on ways to help our most vulnerable population.

Infant mortality is the death of a baby before his/her first birthday.

• The infant mortality rate is 7.3 deaths per 1,000 births, which trails the national average of 5.9 deaths per 1,000 births.
• Nearly three thousand infant lives were lost in the last five years, enough to fill 42 school buses at maximum capacity
• Marion County accounts for more than half of the ‘high-risk’ ZIP codes for infant mortality.

“As a healthcare leader in Indianapolis, I believe it is time for us to take a different approach,” said Community Health Network Chief Operating Officer for the North Region Donetta Gee-Weiler, who spoke at the event. “By working together as healthcare organizations, as well as community, government and not-for-profit partners we can better address health disparities in the communities we serve.”

Other speakers at the summit included Indiana Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box and Community Health Network women’s product line physician lead and board-certified OB/Gyn for Community Health Network, Dr. Indy Lane.

Also in attendance representatives from IU Health, St. Vincent Health, Eskenazi Health, Anthem Indiana Medicaid, the Marion County Public Health Department, the Indiana House of Representatives, the Indiana Senate, the Minority Health coalition, the March of Dimes, the Urban League, and Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.

The four-hour event included the review of recent data regarding infant mortality rates; group discussions related to opportunities for improvement; and the development of action plans to promote positive change.

“It is important to remember that we work not as competitors, but as collaborators, with one common goal: to save Hoosier babies,” said Gee-Weiler.

About Community Health Network
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Community Health Network has been deeply committed to the communities it serves since opening its first hospital, Community Hospital East, in 1956. Now with more than 16,000 caregivers and 200 sites of care, Community Health Network puts patients first while offering a full continuum of healthcare services, world-class innovations and a new focus on population health management. Exceptional care, simply delivered, is what sets Community Health Network apart and what makes it a leading not-for-profit healthcare destination in central Indiana. For more information about Community Health Network, please visit eCommunity.com.