Introducing an innovative, multidisciplinary concept of care - communication problems and possible solutions.

Introducing an innovative, multidisciplinary concept of care means the change of existing structures both in work and communication flows which often involves problems. In this paper we describe exemplary the communication problems which arose during the introduction of the multidisciplinary concept of Family-Centred, Individualized Developmental Care of Premature Infants and Newborns at the Children's Hospital Heidelberg. We suggest workflow adaptations to achieve timeliness of information and present ideas to prevent communication problems e.

Can an EPR support the concept of family-centred, individualized developmental care of premature infants and newborns?

At the University Children's Hospital Heidelberg the concept of 'Developmental, Family-Centred, Individual Care of Premature Infants and Newborns' was introduced to support optimal growth of premature infants. This interdisciplinary concept requires cooperation of different specialists. A well operating communication is a precondition for such cooperation.

[The application of hydrocolloids in genital skin care of pre-term infants].

Since 1994 the neonatal care research of the Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Heidelberg has been occupying itself with skin damage and skin hygiene in newborn and pre-term infants. Due to positive practical experiences when applying a hydrocolloid to pre-term infants with skin damage in genitalia, a randomized controlled study was conducted to investigate whether the application of the hydrocolloid or the valid guideline would promote the healing of the damaged skin. A protocol was developed and data was collected over a period of 19 months.