Finding out bilirubin levels in newborns just got a lot easier at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Bilimeters are now in every single clinic at Sanford Health in South Dakota’s largest city. A bilimeter identifies bilirubin levels in newborns simply “by pressing a simple device on the chest,” said Sanford Health pediatrician Jennifer Haggar, M.D.
“This is typically something that we have to measure through a blood test. For small infants that often means poking their heel and squeezing until we get enough blood sample,” she explained.
Elevated experiences for patients and parents
The bilimeter makes it a greater experience for newborns and parents.
“The parents really appreciate it. When you have a newborn, you have went through an incredibly stressful, and joyful hopefully, period of time. But you’re exhausted,” said Dr. Haggar.
“For moms, they’re going through a lot of emotional and hormonal changes, and then when I have to do this painful procedure to their child, it’s really substantial. So the fact that I can do this really needed test in a painless way, the babies like it, but the parents really like it.”
Bilirubin levels help identify jaundice in babies
It’s a needed and important test because bilirubin levels work to identify jaundice, a common condition for babies where the skin and eyes have a yellow appearance.
“When it’s mild, it’s OK,” said Dr. Haggar. “When jaundice gets severe it’s incredibly dangerous. If jaundice goes untreated and gets to very high levels, permanent brain damage can occur.”
By avoiding a blood test, Dr. Haggar said providers can identify more patients who need to be monitored and treated.
“The result is almost instant. So, if I have to send my patient to the lab for a blood test, our lab teams are fantastic and they do work really quickly, but the blood has to be drawn, go through the machine; it has to be reported into the computer.
“With this (bilimeter), I can ask my nurse to come in and perform the test, and she can tell me the answer before she leaves the room. Then I can talk to the family and say here’s what we see, here’s what this means and here’s what we’re going to do for next steps rather than having to call them an hour later when they’re on the way home and say I need you to come back and get a treatment,” she said.
For patients who call rural America home, that saves them lots of time.
“We want kids to experience the highest level of care no matter what Sanford they go to. All of our Sanford Children’s locations in Sioux Falls have bilimeters. This is a great example of a gift helping with a small thing, but it touches so many patients,” said Dr. Haggar.
Sanford Health Foundation makes bilimeters possible
The bilimeters were fully funded by the Sanford Health Foundation. Vice president of Sanford Health Foundation, Erin Sanderson, said the foundation raised nearly $50,000 to fund bilimeters for the Sioux Falls metro children’s clinics.
“This was a local investment made possible by donors who care deeply about children and families in our community,” said Sanderson.
“Entirely through philanthropic support. This was a Sioux Falls only investment. We’ve seen tremendous support of our Children’s initiative in the last few years, so it tells a great story of the ‘little’ things we’re able to provide in addition to large capital projects,” she added.
Sanderson said the work of health and healing at Sanford Health is driven by the generosity and passion of more than 20,000 donors, fundraisers and supporters, “who want to help shape the future of health care.”
“We often talk about transformational projects and large capital initiatives, but this is a great example of how philanthropy also supports the smaller innovations that make a huge difference in the patient experience every single day.
“A simple, painless test like this can reduce stress for parents, improve care for newborns, and create a better experience for families across our region,” Sanderson said.
To find a clinic near you, visit Sanford Health’s website.
Learn more
- Signs, causes and treatments of jaundice in newborns
- Prep for baby, postpartum, and ‘fourth trimester’
- Sanford Health reinvests $1 billion to expand access to care
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Posted In Children's, Family Medicine, Foundation, Sioux Falls
