Baby heart screening bill to be signed by governor at Morris hospital

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DENVILLE – When Chris Christie arrives at St. Claire’s Hospital later today, he’ll be signing a trailblazing bill that mandates a non-invasive, low-cost heart screening for newborns that sponsors say will save lives.

The test already very likely saved the life of one of the children of sponsor Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell, (D-31), of Bayonne. His son’s pediatrician, being overly cautious, ordered the heart screening and found a heart problem that required surgery.

“(This procedure) would have been detected by this,” O’Donnell said today. “He had surgery five days later, and here we are: he’s a happy and healthy 5-year-old.”

Passed unanimously by both houses, the bill requires a pulse oximetry, or “pulse ox,” test at least 24 hours post-birth to identify Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).

O’Donnell and co-sponsor Assemblywoman Connie Wagner, (D-38), of Paramus, joined Christie for his bill signing today, although most of the questions Christie is expected to field may center on his helicopter trips and reimbursements.

The pulse ox is a simple, non-invasive and painless test used to measure the percentage of oxygen in the blood. The pulse ox is placed on the baby’s foot by a sticky strip, like a bandage, and takes just a few minutes to perform. A low pulse oximetry reading would prompt a doctor or nurse practitioner to ask for more testing, such as a heart ultrasound or echocardiogram. While the pulse oximetry test may not identify all CHD, it is a significant and sensible step toward early detection, its sponsors say.

Baby heart screening bill to be signed by governor at Morris hospital