Follow-up of at-risk infants in the home setting: consultation model

Infants are discharged from intensive care nurseries with varied risk levels and care needs that require a multilevel resource network. This article describes a consultation model that evolved from the collaborative effort of two regional hospitals with state funding support. A hospital-based clinical nurse specialist provides consultation to community health nurses and other providers of local follow-up services. Individualized mentoring, group educational sessions, and program consultation are adapted to the practice level and resource needs in each urban and rural community.