Mounting evidence favoring single-family room neonatal intensive care.
Controversy regarding the optimal design for neonatal intensive care has existed for more than 20 years. Recent evidence confirms that in comparison with the traditional open-bay design, the single-room facility provides for improved control of excessive noise and light, improved staff and parental satisfaction with care and equal, or possibly reduced, cost of care. Single-room care was not associated with any increase in adverse outcomes. To optimize long term developmental outcomes, single-room care must be augmented with appropriate developmental therapy and programs to actively support parental involvement.
Boekelheide Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sanford Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
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D
Stevens
Sanford Health System, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
P
P
Thompson
Boekelheide Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sanford Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
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C
Helseth
Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
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J
Pottala
D022143:Family Nursing / Q000639:trends*; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000639:trends*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000639:trends*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012386:Rooming-in Care / Q000639:trends*
Evidence-based NICU design; outcomes of care; single-family room NICU