Transitioning Newborns from NICU to Home | Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ)

Transitioning Newborns from NICU to Home | Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ)

New AHRQ Toolkit Designed To Improve Safety of Fragile Newborns

A new guide, "Transitioning Newborns from NICU to Home: A Resource Toolkit," is available to help improve the safety of infants born preterm or with complex congenital conditions as they transition from the neonatal intensive care unit to their home. Funded by AHRQ, the toolkit features information on how hospitals can create programs in which a Health Coach serves as a teacher and facilitator who encourages open communication with the parents or caregivers to identify their needs and concerns and facilitate followup medical care for the infant by primary care providers. Using the toolkit, the Health Coach can customize a broad range of information for each family. Included are approximately 30 fact sheets, directed to either the clinician or the infant’s family, on topics such as managing breathing and feeding problems.

Publication # 12(14)-0054-EF

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Transitioning Newborns from NICU to Home

A Resource Toolkit

This toolkit includes resources for hospitals that wish to improve safety when newborns transition home from their neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) by creating a Health Coach Program, tools for coaches, and information for parents and families of newborns who have spent time in the NICU.
Infants born preterm or with complex congenital conditions are surviving to discharge in growing numbers and often require significant monitoring and coordination of care in the ambulatory setting.
This manual is designed to be adapted for any institution that cares for fragile newborn infants.
Health Coaches who want to print materials to create customized Family Information Packets should select PDF files for the Cover Page and each relevant topic. These fact sheets can then be assembled into a packet for each family.

Contents

• Transitioning Newborns From NICU to Home: A Resource Toolkit.
• Transitioning Newborns from NICU to Home: Family Information Packet (Select to create customized packets).
  • Appendix A: Family Information Packet.
  • Appendix B: Clinical Materials to Share With Primary Care Providers.
  • Appendix C: NICU Needs Assessment.
  • Appendix D: Followup Telephone Survey.

Acknowledgments

This resource toolkit was created through collaborative efforts and partnerships among teams of investigators working on the "Safe Passages" project at Baylor College of Medicine; Texas Children’s Hospital; Texas Children’s Health Plan; University of Texas Houston; and the Veteran Affairs Hospital’s doctors, local researchers, nurses, and hospital staff.
The Safe Passages team acknowledges the support of our strong team of investigators: Virginia A. Moyer, M.D., M.P.H.; Lucille A. Papile, M.D.; Eric Eichenwald, M.D.; Jochen Profit, M.D., M.P.H.; Charleta Guillory, M.D.; Hardeep Singh, M.D., M.P.H.; P. Adam Kelly, Ph.D., M.B.A.; Myrna Khan, Ph.D.; and Eric Thomas, M.D., M.P.H.; Clinical Specialist Bonnie Magliaro, M.S., R.N., C.S.; Research Assistant Amanda Vega, B.A.; and Health Coach and Sr. Project Manager Ekiria Collins, M.S.E.
Funding was provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Grant Number R18HSO17889-01.

Current as of December 2013

Internet Citation: Transitioning Newborns from NICU to Home: A Resource Toolkit. December 2013. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/systems/hospital/nicu_toolkit/index.html