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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Part C early intervention utilization in preterm infants: Opportunity for referral from a NICU follow-up clinic
Michelle Greene1, Kousiki Patra2
1Departments of Behavioral Sciences & Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, 1653W Congress Parkway, 1200 Kellogg Building, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Insights
NICU follow-up clinics help connect extremely low birth weight infants to early intervention services. Medical and developmental factors influence enrollment and need for services, ensuring appropriate support for preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Developmental pediatrics
- Public health services
Background:
- Early Intervention (EI) services are crucial for preterm infant development.
- Child and Family Connections (CFC) in Illinois determines EI eligibility.
- Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants are routinely referred to CFC from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate patterns of CFC and EI enrollment in preterm infants.
- Identify predictors for CFC enrollment and referral.
- Examine factors associated with high EI therapy use.
Main Methods:
- Study included 405 preterm infants (169 ELBW) followed at 4, 8, and 20 months corrected age.
- CFC/EI enrollment data collected at follow-up visits.
- Multiple regression analyses adjusted for medical, sociodemographic, and neurodevelopmental risk factors.
Main Results:
- Up to 28% of ELBW infants needed a CFC referral from the NICU follow-up clinic.
- Medical and neurodevelopmental factors predicted CFC enrollment.
- Medical, sociodemographic, and neurodevelopmental factors predicted the need for CFC referral.
Conclusions:
- NICU follow-up clinics play a vital role in ensuring preterm infants receive appropriate CFC/EI services.
- Identifying risk factors aids in targeted EI service provision.
- These clinics facilitate access to essential developmental support.
Objective:
Early Intervention (EI) services promote development for preterm infants. In the state of Illinois, Child and Family Connections (CFC) is the intake agency that determines qualification for EI services. In Illinois, all extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants are eligible for and referred to CFC at discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This study investigated: (1) patterns of CFC and EI enrollment, and; (2) predictors of CFC enrollment, need for CFC referral, and high EI therapy use among preterm infants seen in a NICU follow-up clinic.
Methods:
405 preterm infants, including 169 ELBW infants, were seen in a NICU follow-up clinic at 4-, 8- and 20-months corrected age. CFC/EI data were collected at each visit. Multiple regression analyses adjusted for the effect of medical, sociodemographic and neurodevelopmental risk factors on CFC/EI outcome.
Results:
Despite the high rate of EI utilization and routine care by primary pediatricians, up to 28% of ELBW infants required a CFC referral from a NICU follow-up clinic. Medical and neurodevelopmental risk factors were associated with CFC enrollment while medical, sociodemographic and neurodevelopmental risk factors were associated with need for CFC referral.
Conclusion:
NICU follow-up clinics facilitate appropriate CFC/EI services for preterm infants.
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