title: Design, Implementation, and Early Outcome Indicators of a New Family-Integrated Neonatal Unit.
abstract: Neonatal units are becoming more family-centered based on evidence of improved health outcomes when parents provide care to newborns. Physical environment constraints, as well as nursing care traditions and practices, have been barriers to providing care that includes close parental involvement. Our hospital's experience in implementing a unique model of family-centered care in a Level II nursery suggests that this model of care is beneficial to families, satisfying to health care providers, and a viable model for practice. Some basic outcome data are discussed along with suggestions for future research.
authors.affiliation: Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH. Electronic address: donna@mannclan.us.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000451:nursing*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
keywords: NICU; family-integrated care; models of care; neonatal; skin-to-skin