Support for siblings of NICU patients: an interdisciplinary approach.

Siblings of hospitalized newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) experience unique thoughts and feelings in response to this situational crisis. Providing an opportunity for siblings and their parents to address both of their concerns can improve sibling adjustment to the NICU, and is also consistent with a family-centered care philosophy. This article traces the development and evolution of sibling policy and program changes at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital (HDVCH) NICU, and describes the current comprehensive model for inclusion of siblings.