How to Become Certified
1. Review the application (PDF)
2. Ensure your hospital can meet the eight criteria listed in the application
Note: Your responses are saved if you need to exit out of the application before it's submitted. However, we highly recommend completing the application in one sitting.
Contact us if you have questions or need guidance.
Eight Criteria and Resources to Meet These Criteria
These criteria guidelines, established by a consortium of experts, address maternal behavioral health care and treatment needs of Washington state. These resources may also be helpful if you are not a birthing hospital but want to support people with a substance use disorder who give birth.
In addition to the resources below, we suggest you utilize the free resources found in the Perinatal Substance Use Disorder Learning Collaborative online toolkit and the Washington State Perinatal Collaborative provider resources.
Criterion 1: Verbally screen every person giving birth for substance use disorder with a validated screening tool.
Screening Tools
- 4Ps
- 4Ps Plus
- 5P’s (Recommended Screening Tool)
- NIDA Quick Screen-ASSIST
- Substance Use Risk Profile Pregnancy Scale (PDF)
- TAPS (Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance use Tool)
Other Resources
- Sample 5Ps Screening Tool with Verbal Prompts (PDF)
- Sample Hospital Policy – Substance Use in the Obstetrical Patient (PDF)
- WSHA Perinatal Substance Use Disorder Learning Collaborative Toolkit
Criterion 2: Verbally screen every person giving birth for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) with a validated screening tool (Note: This screening should be in addition to any hospital-wide mandatory mental health screenings and be validated for the perinatal population)
Screening Tools
- Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) (PDF) (Recommended Screening Tool)
- PHQ-2 (Patient Health Questionnaire 2) (PDF)
- PHQ-4 (Patient Health Questionnaire 4)
- PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) (PDF)
Other Resources
- Perinatal Mental Health Care Guide – UW PAL for Moms
- Patient Safety Plan Template – Suicide Prevention Resource Center
- Assessing Safety in the Perinatal Period – UW PAL for Moms
- Washington State Crisis Lines
Criterion 3: Has a provider on-site or on-call that has the skills and scope to begin maintenance medications that treat opioid use disorder and/or adjust (titrate) maintenance medications that treat opioid use disorder during labor and delivery, and postpartum.
OR
If the hospital does not have an on-site/on-call provider, there is a procedure in place to consult with a provider to initiate or adjust maintenance medications when needed.
- Example Hospital Guidance – Care and Stabilization (PDF)
- Sample Hospital Policy – Guideline for Opioid Use Disorder (PDF)
- Swedish Perinatal Addiction Provider Consultation Line: 1-833-937-9362 (YESWECAN), available Monday–Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Perinatal Psychiatry Consult Line (PCL) for Providers: 877-725-4666 or schedule a consultation
- WSHA Perinatal Substance Use Disorder Learning Collaborative Toolkit
Criterion 4: Allows birth parent and infant to room together, unless the birth parent is in the ICU, or there are medical reasons outside of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome for the infant to be in the NICU.
- Example Hospital Guideline – Care of the Newborn (PDF)
- Sample Hospital Policy – Eat, Sleep, Console (PDF)
- Sample Hospital Documents – Eat, Sleep, Console (PDF)
- Newborn Administrative Day Rate FAQ (PDF)
- Eat, Sleep, Console Patient-Centered Video - Spokane Regional Health District (YouTube video)
- WSHA Perinatal Substance Use Disorder Learning Collaborative Toolkit
Criterion 5: Have an evidence informed policy for breastfeeding with medications that treat opioid use disorder that is trauma informed and supports choice
- DOH Lactation and Substance Use Guidance for Health Care Professionals and Patient Education
- AWHONN Breastfeeding Recommendations for Women Who Receive Medication- Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders
Criterion 6: Practice the use of on-pharmacological interventions as the first line of treatment for withdrawal symptoms in the infant
- Example Hospital Guideline – Care of the Newborn (PDF)
- Sample Hospital Policy – Eat, Sleep, Console (PDF)
- Sample Hospital Documents – Eat, Sleep, Console (PDF)
- Newborn Administrative Day Rate FAQ (PDF)
- Eat, Sleep, Console Patient-Centered Video - Spokane Regional Health District (YouTube video)
- WSHA Perinatal Substance Use Disorder Learning Collaborative Toolkit
Criterion 7: Have patient education requirements that include communication with parents about what to expect regarding the notification and report process for infants exposed to substances and what may be expected regarding potential interactions with child welfare.
- DCYF: Guidelines for notifying and reporting infants exposed to substance
- Plan of Safe Care Rack Card
Criterion 8: Have a system in place to support care coordination at discharge, including a warm handoff* if the patient is scheduled to receive care from a provider they haven’t met with before.
*A warm handoff is a transition between two members of the health care team in front of the patient (and family if present).