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Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System Earns Gold Cribs for Kids® Infant Safe Sleep Hospital Certification

  • 4 minute read.
  • Last Updated: 6/30/2025

Morristown, Tenn. – June 2025 –  Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System proudly announces its certification as a Gold Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital. This prestigious recognition highlights Morristown-Hamblen’s commitment to meeting rigorous guidelines and following best practices in infant safe sleep. The certification program helps hosptals provide the highest quality care for their youngest patients.

Cribs for Kids® is a national safe sleep initiative dedicated to reducing infant mortality. To earn a Gold certification, hospitals must have an infant safe-sleep policy and promote sleep education to staff and families. They must identify families needing infant safe-sleep spaces and provide resources to them, and engage in aat least two community safe-sleep education outreach programs.

According to most recent data (released in 2024), 142 sleep-related infant deaths occurred in Tennessee in 2022. “Sleep-related deaths are the number one reason we lose our babies each year—3,400 infants annually,” said Michael H. Goodstein, MD, neonatologist and medical director at Cribs for Kids. He added, “We know that parents replicate at home what they see done in the hospital. Modeling safe sleep and providing education to families will have an impact on infant mortality. The Cribs for Kids program recognizes hospitals making this commitment.”

“This recognition reflects our ongoing dedication to educating families and modeling safe-sleep practices that will help reduce preventable infant deaths. We remain committed to ensuring every child has a safe and healthy start in life,” said Mandy Demitraszek, labor and delivery manager at Morristown-Hamblen.

Two administrators, male and female, and 8 members of the MHHS labor and delivery team Team members hold a certificate recognizing infant safe-sleep practices and two infant sleep sacks.
Morristown-Hamblen leaders and members of the Labor & Delivery team proudly display the hospital’s Gold certification and the sleep sacks give to every newborn at MHHS.

Sleep Sacks for Every Newborn at MHHS

A generous donation to the Morristown-Hamblen Hospital Foundation from Noel Montepeque and his family allowed Morristown-Hamblen to invest in sleep sacks for every newborn. The sleep sacks help keep babies warm without the risk of blankets causing accidental suffocation. Providing the sleep sacks for newborns helped Morristown-Hamblen meet requirements for the Gold Safe Sleep Hospital certification.

“The Morristown-Hamblen Hospital Foundation and generous donors make programs and initiatives like this become a reality,” said Haley Fugate, development manager for Morristown-Hamblen Hospital Foundation. “We’re grateful to Mr. Montepeque’s foresight of what this means for our community and the difference it will make in our youngest patients’ lives.”

The Noel Montepeque family joins Haley Fugate, Morristown-Hamblen Hospital Foundation, and members of the MHHS team. Thanks to the family’s generous donation, Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System provides sleep sacks for all babies born at the hospital.

Recognition for Infant Safe-Sleep Practices

The National Infant Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program launched in 2015. It is rooted in safe sleep recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“Research shows families tend to follow at home what they see practiced in the hospital. With over 500 infant safe-sleep-certified hospitals across the country and beyond, we’re proud to welcome Morristown-Hamblen to our program,” said Judy Bannon, CEO and founder of Cribs for Kids. “This initiative will have a profound effect on saving babies’ lives.”

Morristown-Hamblen offers a full range of maternity services, from prenatal care to delivery to postnatal care and education. The hospital also holds a designation as a Blue Distinction Center+ in Maternity Care from BlueCross BlueShield.

For more about Cribs for Kids® safe-sleep hospital certification program, visit www.cribsforkids.org/hospitalcertification.

About Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System

Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System is a 167-bed hospital serving residents throughout the surrounding eight-county area. The hospital offers comprehensive medical care with six Centers of Excellence, including Morristown Regional Cancer Center, a Women’s Center, Breast Center, Outpatient Surgery Center, an Emergency and Critical Care Center, and the Heart, Lung and Vascular Center. Covenant Health Morristown-Hamblen’s 125-year heritage reflects a patient-focused approach with a commitment to integrity, quality and service to our communities. Visit CovenantHealth.com/Morristown-Hamblen to learn more.

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