MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

(1)

MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

Submitted By: March of Dimes,

Georgia

Chapter

March of Dimes NICU Family Support

®

(2)

March of Dimes NICU Family Support was created 10 years ago to:

 Provide information and comfort to families during the NICU

hospitalization of their newborn, during the transition home, and in the event of a newborn death

 Contribute to NICU staff professional development

 Promote the philosophy of family-centered care throughout NICUs

Multiple services are available in hospitals through NICU Family Support, including the: Chapter-managed, March of Dimes-staffed NICU Family Support Program, NICU Family Support License Program, NICU Family Support Center (Kiosk) and ShareYourStory.org. NICU Family Support is in more than 112 hospitals across the country and is offered in every state, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. NICU Family Support was launched at Memorial University Medical Center in August of 2006 and continues to enhance family-centered care and provide information and comfort to hundreds of families each year. The following is a comprehensive overview of our program in 2011.

NICU Family Support Activities 2011

Total Number of NICU Admissions: 757 Average Daily Census 42 Parent Care Kits distributed to families: 479

Parent Activities/Parent Education Hours offered: 127

Family members who attended Parent Activity/ Education Hours: 795

(3)

Parent Hours Offered for

Family Education, Support and Comfort

 “Infection Control at Home” – Linda M. Sacks, MD, FAAP, Co-Director of Nurseries & Neonatal Tertiary Director; Michael A. Friedman, MD, FAAP, Staff Neonatologist; Dan Sandler, MD, FAAP, Staff Neonatologist; Brad Buckler, MD, Staff Neonatologist

 “Infant Massage” – Sarah Schiesser, BS, Senior Occupational Therapist in Pediatric Rehabilitation

 “Milk & Cookies” (Breastfeeding support) – Cindy Hendry, RN, Perinatal Outreach Patient Educator; Liz Salley, Registered Dietician; Beth Pashke, RN, BSN, NICN Discharge Coordinator; Holly McSpadden, IBCLC, Sr. Lactation Consultant

 Scrap Booking & Journey Beads” – Patricia Barrett, MA, MOD NICU FSS

 “10 Important Things you Need to know” – Risk Reduction – Jane Moore, RN; Kate Adams, RN

 “Speech & Language Development for the Pre-Term Infant” – Julie Burch, MS, Ed., CCC-Speech, Senior Speech/Language Pathologist

 “Car Seat Safety” – S/Tpr. Andy Sinquefield, Safety Education Coordinator, Georgia State Patrol

 “Graduate Parent Shares it All” – Dana Huffman, NICU mom of twins.

 “Dudes & Doughnuts” (support group for NICU dads) – Fran McAleer, LCSW, Social Work Case Manager; Ella Arnold, MSW, Social Work Case Manager; Kyle Blackmon, graduate NICU dad of twins. .

NICU Family Support Modules

Modules are comprehensive programs focused on a specific topic area. They include: parent education, parent comfort and staff education. Modules are selected by the CNAC (Chapter

NICU Advisory Committee). Our modules include: Family Empowerment

Empowers families in the NICN to participate in their baby’s care, be an advocate for their newborn, and to be a member of their healthcare team. Parent 2 Parent

(4)

Rural/Outlying Families

Provides emotional and information support for families from rural or outlying areas. A “Welcome to Savannah and the NICN” booklet is available for families from other areas. Bedside cards are provided to the Transport Team and given to new moms in outlying hospitals, giving them NICN contact numbers. Parent Hours offer them the

opportunity to connect with other families. Close to Me/Kangaroo Care

Provides education and support to families for skin-to-skin (kangaroo care) holding of their babies. This year we were able to provide two chairs, one screen, and hand-held

mirrors for looking at baby while doing Kangaroo Care, and a small toy kangaroo for NICU families. Brochures about Kangaroo care are provided in the Parent Care Kits.

Parents receive a special Journey Bead when they do Kangaroo Care. A weekly support group is offered to moms where the importance of Kangaroo care.

Photography

Weave photography throughout the NICN experience to provide lasting keepsakes for families. In addition to offering monthly scrap booking sessions, cameras and decorated picture frames are provided to families. Photos of babies are made and

(5)

NICU Family Support 2011 Highlights

 Selected as one of five sites nationally to receive a “Bright Space” for NICU

siblings. Through a partnership between March of Dimes NICU Family Support and Bright Horizons Foundation, developmentally appropriate, comforting space for big sisters and brothers of NICU babies will be created. Funding will be provided by March of Dimes National Office and Bright Horizons

Foundation.

 Developed and implemented new Close to Me (Kangaroo Care) module

 Provided staff development for one NICN nurse to the five day Graven’s

Conference in Tampa, Fla.., January 25-29, 2011.

 Weeklong recognition of NICN staff during National Neonatal Nurses Week

with gifts provided by NICU graduate parents and NICU FS.

 Continued collaboration with NICN Dietician, Lactation Consultant, and NICN

Discharge planner to provide a weekly support group for moms who are pumping and breast feeding. Saw increase of 20% of moms who went home breast feeding their babies.

 Provided Journey Beads as a Parent Hour activity on a weekly basis.

 Secured food donation for bi-weekly Lunch & Learn/Infection Control Parent

hour. Donations provided by community and volunteers.

 Provided binders and March of Dimes information for family education book

distributed by Discharge planner.

 Held two bake sales that raised Prematurity Awareness and earned over $2000

for March of Dimes. Items provided by community and volunteers.

 Began a Parent Hour for NICU dads called “Dudes and Doughnuts.”

 Participated in the 30th Annual NICN Family Reunion.



(6)

2012 Goals for NICU Family Support

®

 Continue to develop the Close to Me/Kangaroo Care module, including continuation of weekly support group for breast feeding moms

 Work with Bright Horizons and March of Dimes national office to develop

the Bright Space waiting area.

 Provide staff development that will support the efforts of Close to Me/Kangaroo Care module with NICU staff as well as additional family centered care topics

 Establish regular schedule for the Duds and Doughnuts Parent Hour and secure graduate dads who will help lead the group

 Encourage attendance of all families at Parent Hours  Recruit graduate parents for CNAC



Increase participation of Parent 2 Parent volunteers who work along side current NICU parents, providing comfort and support. Continue to inspire community volunteer groups and organization to support the program through donations, time and supplies.



Continue to support, promote, and strengthen the partnership between Memorial University Medical Center and the March of Dimes so that families know that Memorial University Medical center is the only hospital with our signature NICU Family Support Program in Coastal Georgia.

March of Dimes Chapter NICU Action Committee (CNAC)

The CNAC is an advisory board of NICU staff, hospital administrators, and former NICU parents who provide guidance on the selection and implementation of NICU

Family Support programs and activities

We greatly appreciate and thank the following members of our committee who provide their invaluable expertise, time and input:

Miranda Bacot, NICU parent Collette Balder, NICU grandparent

(7)

April Blackmon, NICU Parent Tamara Braziel, NICU parent Elaine Brinson, NICU Parent Octavia Carter, NICU parent

Sheila Ebri, NICU parent Amanda Emley, NICU parent Jessica English, NICU parent Sandra Graves, NICU parent Nita Hill, NICU grandparent Dana Huffman, NICU parent Nathaniel Jones, NICU parent

Lindsay Jones, NICU parent Mary Lorza, NICU parent Amber McHargue, NICU parent

Jennifer Nguyen, NICU parent Karen Oliver, NICU grandparent

Nikkie Reagan, NICU parent Sandra Rouse, NICU parent Rose Slusser, NICU parent Stacy Stanton, NICU parent Nicole Watson, NICU parent;

Ella Arnold, MSW, Social Work Case Manager Donna Bennett, RNC

Julie Burch, MS, ED, CCC-Speech, Senior Speech/Language Pathologist Nicole Follansbee, RN, Neonatal Senior Staff Nurse

Cindy Henry, RN, Perinatal Outreach Patient Educator Yvonne Holmes, RN

Kelly Hunt, Practice Manager, Pediatrix Medical Group of Georgia Lisa Koons, RN, MSN, Clinical Director, Children’s Hospital

(8)

Holly McSpadden, IBCLC, Sr. Lactation Consultant Bonnie Maynor, RN, BSN, Unit Educator Phyllis Maynor, Perinatal Outreach Center Secretary

Jane Moore, RN, BSN

Beth Pashke, RN, BSN, NICN Discharge Coordinator Liz Rauch, Division Outreach Coordinator

Merritt Quarrles, RNC-NIC, BSN

Dr. Linda Sacks, MD, Medical Director, Pediatrix Medical Group of Georgia Sarah Schiesser, BS, Senior Occupational Therapist in Pediatric Rehabilitation

Patty Sullivan, Staff RN2

Diane Youmans, RNC, MSN, Regional Neonatal Outreach Coordinator Jill Royal, RN, NICN Nurse Manager

Liz Salley, Registered Dietician

Laura Thompson, Ex. Dir., MOD SE Georgia Division Heather Wyrick, RN, Neonatal Senior Staff Nurse Patricia Barrett, MA, MOD NICU Family Support Specialist

Special thanks to Memorial University Medical Center for partnering with March of Dimes to bring support to NICU families!