Maryvale Hospital Ranks Last In Newborn Screening

By Steve Goldstein
Published: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 - 2:08pm
Updated: Thursday, November 21, 2013 - 9:55am
Audio icon Download mp3 (11.48 MB)
Audio icon Download mp3 (13.4 MB)

On Sunday, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel published an in-depth report on how states are doing with the requirement to draw a bit of blood from newborns and have the blood tested for a number of possible conditions or disorders within 24 to 72 hours. According to the data, Maryvale Hospital in Phoenix had the worst record last year, with 70 percent of newborn screening samples arriving at the state's testing lab at least five days after they were collected.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reporter Ellen Gabler put together the investigative package for the paper.

Mary Ellen Cunningham, chief of the Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services, explained what Arizona is doing to try to improve the situation.

Read Gabler's full story below.


Delays at hospitals across the country undermine newborn screening programs, putting babies at risk (via The Journal Sentinel)

By Ellen Gabler of the Journal Sentinel
Nov. 16, 2013
The baby in Arkansas seems healthy at birth. Warm, fuzzy skin. A normal weight. But Aiden Cooper can't keep down formula. Don't worry, he's fine, doctors assure his mother as they leave the hospital…