Women & Infant Health: Newborn Tests & Treatments HealthReach,
Fall 2012 | Page 12 It’s almost time for your baby to be born at
Virginia Hospital Center. In preparation for your stay on the
Mother-Baby Unit, we want to fill you in about common tests and
treatments your newborn may have before going home. Sawsan
Talib, MD, Chair, Department of Pediatrics, along with Dena
McCoy, RN, Mother-Baby Unit Patient Care Director, and Susan
Mayhugh, RN, NICU Patient Care Director, provided this snapshot
of what to expect. Physical by a Pediatrician All babies are
medically assessed at birth. In addition, they must have a
physical by a pediatrician within the first 24 hours of life.
Pediatric residents and neonatologists are on staff at the
Hospital around the clock to address any issues that may arise
during the baby’s stay. Newborn Metabolic Screening All babies
are required to have the Newborn Metabolic Screening, a blood
test that screens for more than 50 metabolic diseases, genetic
disorders and anemias. It is done