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Improving access to neurodevelopmental resources for NICU graduates

Journal of Perinatology volume 44, pages 578–580 (2024)Cite this article

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Advances in neonatal care have improved the survival of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients; however, increased survival rates are accompanied by increased risk of long-term neurodevelopmental morbidities [1]. Targeted developmental interventions in high-risk children can be effective in improving early childhood learning and developmental outcomes [2]. Implementation of “in-hospital education bundles” and ongoing care coordination by a multidisciplinary team have proven beneficial in improving follow-up rates when dedicated personnel ensure parent education is provided [3, 4].

Our 75-bed NICU and affiliated neurodevelopmental follow-up clinic are part of an urban freestanding children’s hospital. We have approximately 1050 admissions annually; about 20% qualify for follow-up based on prematurity and birthweight (<32 weeks’ gestation, <1500 g), neurologic insult, or complex cardiac or surgical diagnoses. We determined that these qualifying infants would benefit from referral to Early Intervention (EI) at discharge as well.

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Fig. 1: Processes for developmental follow-up referral improvement.

References

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Wendi Gu, Toni Iurcotta.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Theiju Sebastian

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Wendi Gu, Toni Iurcotta & Sandhya S. Brachio

Authors
  1. Theiju Sebastian
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  2. Wendi Gu
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  3. Toni Iurcotta
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  4. Sandhya S. Brachio
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Contributions

TS: significant contributions to the design and conception, data analysis and interpretation, drafting of the manuscript, revision of the manuscript, and final approval. WG: significant contributions to the design and conception, data analysis and interpretation, drafting and revision of the manuscript, and final approval. TI: significant contributions to the design and conception, data analysis and interpretation, drafting and revision of the manuscript, and final approval. SSB: significant contributions to the design and conception, data analysis and interpretation, revision of the manuscript, and final approval.

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Correspondence to Theiju Sebastian.

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Sebastian, T., Gu, W., Iurcotta, T. et al. Improving access to neurodevelopmental resources for NICU graduates. J Perinatol 44, 578–580 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-023-01819-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-023-01819-w

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