Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond Receives Grant Funds from First Citizens Charitable Foundation for Purchase of Jaundice Meter
Iowa Specialty Hospital–Belmond recently received $4,000 in grant funding from First Citizens Charitable Foundation to help fund the purchase of a jaundice meter for their Mason City clinic location.
A jaundice meter is a non-invasive bilirubin-measuring device utilized by healthcare providers and staff for screening newborn babies. Bilirubin is a yellow waste product that builds up in the blood when a newborn’s young liver cannot clear it fast enough, causing jaundice, or the yellowing of the baby’s skin and eyes. The jaundice meter measures the yellow color in a baby’s skin and tissue without the use of a needle for a blood draw. Instead, a doctor or nurse presses the tip of the device gently against a baby’s forehead or chest, sending a quick flash of light into the skin. Since bilirubin absorbs blue and green light differently, the device measures how much light bounces back at specific color wavelengths and shows an estimate of the bilirubin level on a screen.
While jaundice typically resolves on its own in the first week following birth, occasionally it can be an early indicator of a serious underlying condition. Monitoring bilirubin levels and early intervention provide the best care for our smallest and most vulnerable patients.
With the increasing number of babies born at Iowa Specialty Hospital–Clarion coming from Cerro Gordo County, it is expected that the number of newborn patient clinic visits will continue to increase in our new Mason City location. Having a jaundice meter at this location will reduce the need to travel for new parents when getting quick and accurate bilirubin measurements are important. A baby with jaundice may have to come in weekly, or more often, to monitor their bilirubin levels. The jaundice meter can be used to monitor these levels quickly and painlessly, benefiting both the parents and the children.
“Our clinicians and staff at the clinic would like to extend our thanks to Jon Prebeck and the First Citizens Charitable Foundation for their generous donation to our clinic for the purchase of a Jaundice Meter,” stated Samantha Gappa, Iowa Specialty-Mason City clinic leader. “Because of your support, our providers are able to monitor and treat our newborn patients faster and less invasively in their first days of life. We are grateful for your partnership and commitment to improving healthcare locally.”
To learn more about First Citizens Charitable Foundation, visit their website at https://myfcb.bank/charitable-foundation.html.
*Pictured are Iowa Specialty – Mason City clinic providers and staff and a member of First Citizens Charitable Foundation with donation check.
