As heart parents, we’ve become experts at watching our kids’ O2 saturation rates through the finger/toe testing device known as pulse oximetry. In 2011, the Health and Human Services sector of the federal government formally adopted recommendations that every newborn in the US should be tested for a cyanotic condition by having this simple test. This is important as one in every 100 children is born with a congenital heart defect and, of these, 25% require surgical intervention within the first months of life.
Some Oklahoma hospitals are already doing this and we commend them as we do the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s advocacy efforts on this front!
