Considerations in planning a newborn developmental care program in a community hospital setting.
The effectiveness of developmental care has primarily been evaluated in large tertiary neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and has shown some promise in enhancing the developmental outcomes of premature newborns cared for in these settings. These interventions have never been prospectively evaluated outside of tertiary care settings. This article attempts to define and critically review developmental care. The differences between large teaching hospital NICUs and smaller community hospital units are highlighted. An overview of developmental care strategies is provided, along with considerations and resources available to support the implementation of developmental care in the community setting.
Martucci
Melissa
M
Ventilated Assisted Children's Home Program, Philadelphia, PA, USA. martucci@email.chop.edu
D006752:Hospital Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D014481:United States