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Visitation restrictions: is it right and how do we support families in the NICU during COVID-19?
Peter D Murray1, Jonathan R Swanson2
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Virginia Children's Hospital, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic restricted family access to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). This paper explores strategies for NICUs to support families at home and in the NICU, ensuring infant well-being.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Public health
- Medical ethics
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted hospital operations, particularly in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
- Restrictions on parental and family visitation have become widespread in NICUs globally.
- Ethical considerations arise regarding the restriction of parental presence in NICUs due to infectious risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss strategies for neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to support parents and families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To explore methods for providing infant support when family members cannot visit.
- To address the ethical challenges of restricted visitation in NICUs.
Main Methods:
- This is a perspective piece, not a research study.
- Discussion of current practices and ethical considerations in NICU family support.
- Review of potential alternative support mechanisms for families and infants.
Main Results:
- NICUs have implemented various mechanisms to support families remotely and in-person despite visitation limitations.
- Strategies focus on maintaining family-centered care principles within pandemic-related constraints.
- The need for adaptable support systems for infants and families in NICUs is highlighted.
Conclusions:
- NICUs must develop innovative approaches to support families, balancing infection control with essential family presence.
- Continued support for parents and infants is crucial for positive neonatal outcomes, even with restricted access.
- Ethical frameworks need to guide decision-making regarding family visitation in critical care settings.
Abstract:
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has largely not clinically affected infants in neonatal intensive care units around the globe, it has affected how care is provided. Most hospitals, including their NICUs, have significantly reduced parental and family visitation privileges. From an ethical perspective, this restriction of parental visitation in settings where infectious risk is difficult to understand. No matter what the right thing to do is, NICUs are currently having to support families of their patients via different mechanisms. In this perspective, we discuss ways NICUs can support parents and families when they are home and when they are in the NICU as well as provide infants the support needed when family members are not able to visit.
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