Amidst the opioid epidemic sweeping the nation, Chester County Hospital is taking action to protect the youngest victims, the ones suffering from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, according to a report from the Daily Local News.

The extent of the crisis is evident in Chester County. Over each of the last five years, an average of 32 babies have been admitted with NAS at Chester County Hospital.

“At any given time, we are caring for an infant going through withdrawal,” said Susan Cacciavillano, clinical manager of Chester County Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pediatrics Department.

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In response to the surging epidemic, the hospital has launched initiatives to improve the care of both expectant mothers with substance abuse issues and newborns with NAS.

The hospital grades the withdrawal symptoms of a newborn when the mother is known to be either actively using opioids or receiving methadone. This assesses the most commons signs of NAS and scores them, with each newborn’s treatment then adjusted based on the score.

Other initiatives include the volunteer newborn-hugging program and the Mothers MATTER program.

Read more about Chester County Hospital’s new initiatives in the Daily Local News here.

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