Virtual Visitation in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Insights From 5 Years Using a PDSA Model to Improve Family-Centered Care.

This 5-year study evaluated a virtual visitation implementation initiative in a neonatal intensive care unit. Our objectives were to (1) use the Plan-Do-Study-Act methodological framework to implement a virtual visitation program, (2) investigate whether implementation of virtual visitation could be done with no patient harm and minimal workflow disruption, (3) foster a top-down participatory structure for decision making, and (4) evaluate parent use and satisfaction. The study involved a qualitative and quantitative description of cycles and results.

An Evacuation Simulation in Multiple Neonatal Intensive Care Units Across a Single City: Lessons Learned.

Objective: Evacuations of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in emergency situations pose specialized challenges given their population of critically-ill neonates. Most of the literature on this topic describes planned evacuations and simulations due to natural disasters, usually involving only NICU staff. This study examines a unique emergent NICU evacuation simulation involving multiple responders occurring on a citywide scale.

Adverse birth outcome across the generations: the contribution of paternal factors.

Purpose: There is literature suggesting an intergenerational relationship between maternal and infant size for gestational age status and preterm birth, but much less is known about the contribution of paternal birth outcome to infant birth outcome. This study seeks to determine the association between paternal and infant small-for-gestational-age status (weight for gestational age < 10th percentile, SGA) and preterm birth (< 37 weeks gestation, PTB) in a large, diverse population-based sample in the United States.

Methods: Stratified and log-binomial multivariable regression analyses were computed on the vital records of Illinois-born infants (1989-1991) and their Illinois-born parents (born 1956-1976).

Current Knowledge and Practice of Pediatric Providers in Umbilical Cord Blood Banking.

More than 35 000 umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplants have been performed worldwide, prompting the development of private and public banks to collect and store UCB cells. We hypothesized that pediatricians, who are uniquely poised to discuss UCB banking (UCBB) during prenatal or sibling visits, rarely do so. Through distribution of a 26-question electronic survey to general and subspecialty pediatric providers, we assessed baseline knowledge and conversations about UCBB.