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Developing a Small Baby Program for the Extremely Low Birth Weight: The Wee CARE Team
Insights
The Wee CARE team at The Children's Hospital at Providence developed best practices for extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates. This initiative aims to improve survival and reduce morbidities for high-risk infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Critical Care
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- The Children's Hospital at Providence (TCHaP) in Anchorage admits up to 60 extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates annually.
- ELBW neonates (22-29 weeks gestational age) disproportionately contribute to mortality and serious morbidities.
- In Alaska, only 38% of neonates born <28 weeks survived without major morbidities in 2014, with survival dropping to 25% for those born <26 weeks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the high rates of death and serious morbidities in ELBW neonates.
- To establish standardized best practices for managing ELBW infant care within TCHaP.
- To improve morbidity-free survival rates for ELBW neonates.
Main Methods:
- Initiated discussions among Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nursing leaders, clinical nurses, and physicians.
- Formed a multidisciplinary specialist group, the Wee CARE team, to develop best practices.
- Focused on identifying current co-morbidities and potential best practices for ELBW care.
Main Results:
- A collaborative effort was undertaken by NICU staff and physicians.
- The Wee CARE team was established to create evidence-based guidelines.
- The initiative focused on improving care for a vulnerable ELBW population.
Conclusions:
- Developing specialized teams and best practices is crucial for improving outcomes in ELBW neonates.
- Standardized care protocols can enhance survival and reduce morbidities in high-risk infants.
- The Wee CARE team represents a commitment to advancing neonatal critical care at TCHaP.
Abstract:
The Children's Hospital at Providence (TCHaP) is a hospital within a hospital, in the heart of Alaska's biggest city, Anchorage. TCHaP admits up to 60 extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates per year. The ELBW population, although small in number, contributes disproportionately to rates of death or serious morbidities. Nationally, ELBW is defined as a neonate born at a gestational age between 22 and 29 weeks. In 2014, only 38 percent of neonates born in Alaska <28 weeks survived without experiencing major morbidities. For those born <26 weeks, morbidity-free survival dropped to 25 percent. Discussions were held among NICU nursing leaders, clinical nurses, and physicians about current co-morbidities and potentially best practices to improve outcomes. Subsequently, the group decided to develop best practices for managing the care of the ELBW, which started by organizing a group of specialists. This group at TCHaP is called the Wee CARE team.
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