In the spotlight
ABP MOC Part IV Module Available
The Perinatal Section has developed a Performance Improvement Module to fulfill Part 4 of Maintenance of Certification. This PIM was developed by SoPPe members Patrick Carroll, Richard Powers, William Carey, and Munish Gupta in partnership with the ABP. This is the first PIM produced by the AAP that is focused specifically on neonatal care. This module, available at no cost to Section members, is related to admission temperature of the ELBW to the NBICU. More modules are in development and will be available soon.
The PIM can be found at the ABP site by searching Part 4 activities for "Preterm Admission Temperature."
ABP website (PIM access requires individual ABP login) »
Perinatal Pediatrics Spring Workshop
The Leadership Course for Everyone – Scottsdale 2013
The Spring Workshop is the conference specifically designed to facilitate leadership amongst all of our members. Utilizing plenary sessions, workshops, and unstructured time in the Arizona sunshine, neonatologists at any stage of training and at any level of interest will find opportunities to become better leaders and better physicians.
Throughout the workshop, the thread of “leadership – by everyone, everywhere, all the time” will be evident. Even if you only see yourself as a leader in the most limited sense, we think you will find plenty here to help you become a better clinician and professional.
Global Health for the Neonatologist
Featured Speaker at Scottsdale Spring Meeting
Dr Waldemar Carlo will be speaking at the L. Joseph Butterfield Lecture on “How to Save One Million Perinatal Lives Per Year: Helping Babies Breathe and Essential Newborn Care Training Programs."
International Membership in the Section on Perinatal Pediatrics
In the spring of 2012, the Section membership voted to extend membership to physicians involved in perinatal and neonatal care around the globe. This is an important step forward in the Section, and we hope you will consider joining us or letting your international colleagues know about this opportunity.
Read the membership flyer for more information »
In the news
New Policy Statement on the Screening Examination
of Premature Infants for Retinopathy of Prematurity
This statement revises a previous statement on screening of preterm infants for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) that was published in 2006. ROP is a pathologic process that occurs only in immature retinal tissue and can progress to a tractional retinal detachment, which can result in functional or complete blindness. This statement presents the attributes on which an effective program for detecting and treating ROP could be based, including the timing of initial examination and subsequent reexamination intervals.
Guidance on Management of Asymptomatic Neonates
Born to Women With Active Genital Herpes Lesions
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection of the neonate is uncommon, but genital herpes infections in adults are very common. Thus, although treating an infant with neonatal herpes is a relatively rare occurrence, managing infants potentially exposed to HSV at the time of delivery occurs more frequently. The risk of transmitting HSV to an infant during delivery is determined in part by the mother’s previous immunity to HSV. The algorithm does not address the approach to asymptomatic neonates delivered to women with a history of genital herpes but no active lesions at delivery.
Read the full Clinical Report here »
Featured Articles
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in the Early CPAP and Pulse Oximetry Trial
A recent publication in the New England Journal of Medicine reports on the 18-22 month outcomes of the original cohort enrolled in the NIH Neonatal Research Network SUPPORT trial evaluating early CPAP compared to early intubation and two different levels of oxygen saturation.
Access the full article here »
Coding Corner
AAP Perinatal Coding Expert, Gil Martin, and others answer your questions.
Michelle K. Chiu, MD, FAAP asked:
The question I have is on ICD9 codes for babies who are now > 30 days. Many of the codes we have used (beginning with the 7—‘s) has been dedicated to the neonatal period. But we often have babies who are ELBWs, who are now over 30 days, and when we try to code for certain diseases, such as chronic lung disease (770.7) or NEC Stage I (code 777.51), we are told by our hospital coders that we are not allowed to use these codes anymore since the babies are over 30 days, and should use instead other ICD9 descriptors (in our example, CLD 518.82 and NEC Stage I is 557.0). The coders are changing our ICD9 diagnosis and submitting for reimbursement.
Will you all be able to help us determine which code is the right one we should use for the babies in the Neonatal ICU? Are we allowed to continue to use the Neonatal ICD9 codes that were given to us from the section the entire hospital NICU stay for our patients, or do they indeed switch at > 30 days of life?
Linda Waldman asked:
Should we be billing for the 2 month immunizations (90460 /90461) for our preterm infants who are still admitted in the NICU or would it be bundled under the hospital charges?
The answer from our Neonatal Coding Experts »
Send us your coding questions »
what is the Section on perinatal pediatrics?
The Section on Perinatal Pediatrics is the home organization for specialists in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and also welcomes affiliate members working in related disciplines. At a membership of nearly 3,500, the Section is the largest specialty subgroup of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Section's highest priority is to ensure optimal health and well-being of babies and mothers and this is accomplished through the Section's core activities in the realms of advocacy, education, outreach and support of clinicians and researchers.
