36 | The Baby Steps Program: A Transition of Care Model Supporting Families After the NICU
EPISODE 36
Dr. Danielle A. Cierak and Flor Tena discuss their work in the NICU and the challenges families face after leaving the hospital. They developed the Baby Steps transition of care model to support NICU patients and families during the difficult period after discharge.
The Baby Steps program provides support to families after their NICU stay, helping them transition to home and navigate the challenges of caring for their baby. The program starts when a dedicated telehealth NICU nurse meets with families before discharge and then continues with a virtual call post-discharge where a nurse can help troubleshoot or schedule follow-up visits after they go home. During the televisit, the nurse can provide reassurance, answer questions, and address concerns. They can also assess the family's environment, review discharge instructions, and reconcile medications.
The program reduces the burden on families by eliminating the need for travel to appointments and provides an extra layer of comfort knowing that help is just a phone call away. It empowers families to be advocates for their babies and provides a sense of companionship and support through connections with other families who have gone through similar experiences.
Quick Notes from the Episode:
💙 Check out this video that has more info on Baby Steps with a family perspective.
💙 Check out the Baby Steps webpage.
💙 Check out this feature written about Baby Steps after they received the acclaimed Edge Runner award.
💙 You can reach out to Danielle and Flor through LinkedIn.
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A special thanks to the Prolacta Bioscience Foundation for supporting the NICU Alumni podcast!
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The purpose of this podcast is for entertainment only and should not be viewed as medical advice.