Increasing in-person medical interpreter utilization in the NICU through a bundle of interventions.

Background: In-person medical interpretation improves communication with patients who have preferred language other than English (PLOE). Multi-dimensional barriers to use of medical interpreters limit their use in the NICU.

Local Problem: Medical teams in our NICU were not consistently using in-person medical interpreters, leading to ineffective communication with families with PLOE.

Standardized Evaluation of Cord Gases in Neonates at Risk for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy.

Background: Umbilical-cord acidemia may indicate perinatal asphyxia and places a neonate at increased risk for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Our specific aim was to develop a standardized clinical care pathway, ensuring timely identification and evaluation of neonates with umbilical-cord acidemia at risk for HIE.

Methods: A standardized clinical care pathway to screen inborn neonates ≥36 weeks with abnormal cord blood gases (a pH of ≤7.