Healthy Start Presentation Focuses on Prescription Misuse in Pregnancy

BRADENTON -- Nancy Hardt, M.D., Professor of Pathology and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Florida College of Medicine will present Maternal Mortality and Prescription Misuse in Pregnancy at Healthy Start’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 6th from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm at Manatee Memorial Hospital’s auditorium.

Dr. Hardt is a member of the state’s Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review (PAMR) committee, and in that capacity, she reviews maternal deaths in Florida; she will address the interrelated topics of Healthy Start risk screening, traumatic death, and prescription drug use among pregnant women in Florida.

According to data collected by the St. Petersburg Times, in 2010, close to 1,300 drug-dependent newborns were treated for withdrawal throughout Florida, a 30% increase from 2009; many of these were related to the use of painkillers and antianxiety drugs during pregnancy.

The presentation is sponsored by Manatee Memorial Hospital, Premier OB/GYN and Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center.  CEUs for nursing, mental health, and social work professionals will be available, in addition to certificates of attendance.

Light refreshments will be provided, but space is limited, so an RSVP is required.  To make a reservation, please contact Luz Corcuera at Luz@hsmanatee.com or 941-714-7541 ext. 302.

Manatee Memorial Hospital is located at 206 Second Street East, Bradenton, FL 34208.