Advancing Health Equity by Translating Lessons Learned from NICU Family Visitations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Pang, Emily; Sey, Rachelle; Beritto, Theodore De; Lee, Henry; Powell, Carmin M.

doi:10.1542/neo.22-1-e1

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…However, NICU leadership did pivot quickly to ensure that families had ready access to parent partners, social workers, and psychologists virtually. Emerging evidence argues that there is a need to consider the negative implications that restricted family presence policies during COVID-19 have not only on families but also the extremely vulnerable preterm infants (Bouchoucha & Bloomer, 2020;Pang et al, 2021). Some of the successes and positive outcomes of the family restriction policies were the continued focus on FICare as well as the shift to virtual care to engage those who were not able to be present.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Restrictive Family Presence Policies in Response to COVID-19 on Family Integrated Care in the NICU: A Qualitative Study

McCulloch

Campbell‐Yeo

Richardson

et al. 2021

HERD

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Objectives: To conduct a needs assessment with families and their healthcare team to understand the impact of restrictive family presence policies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in response to COVID-19. Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, significant restrictive family presence policies were instituted in most NICUs globally intended to protect infants, families, and HCPs. However, knowledge on the impact of the stress of the pandemic and policies restricting family presence in the NICU on vulnerable neonates and their families remains limited. Methods: Individuals were eligible to participate if they were a caregiver of an infant requiring NICU care or a healthcare provider (HCP) in the NICU after March 1, 2020. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a virtual communication platform, and transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic qualitative content analysis. Results: Twenty-three participants were interviewed (12 families and 11 HCPs). Three themes emerged: (1) successes (family-integrated care, use of technology), (2) challenges (lack of standardized messaging and family engagement, impact on parental wellbeing, institutional barriers, and virtual care), and (3) moving forward (responsive and supportive leadership). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the significant impact of family restrictions on the mental well-being of families, physical closeness with parents, and empathetic stress to HCPs. Further study of potential long-term impact is warranted.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Restrictive Family Presence Policies in Response to COVID-19 on Family Integrated Care in the NICU: A Qualitative Study

McCulloch

Campbell‐Yeo

Richardson

et al. 2021

HERD

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“…(Scala et al, 2021). Furthermore, as disparities in ability to be present at bedside have existed even prior to the pandemic, they have become more pronounced and exacerbated during the pandemic (Pang et al, 2021).…”

Section: Reduced Visitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptation of infant mental health services to preterm infants and their families receiving neonatal intensive care unit services during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Kelleher

Dempsey

Takamatsu

et al. 2022

Infant Mental Health Journal

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Multiple changes and stressors at the family, hospital, and societal levels have resulted from the COVID‐19 pandemic that impact the early social environment of infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) settings. This manuscript reviews these pandemic‐related adversities, including hospital‐wide visitor restrictions, mask requirements that interfere with caregiver facial expressions, parental anxiety about virus transmission, and reduced support services. We will further describe adaptations to mental health service delivery and approaches to care in the NICU to mitigate increased risk associated with pandemic‐related adversities. Adaptations include integration of technology, staff education and support, and delivery of activity kits to encourage parent–infant bonding. Data was collected as part of routine program evaluation of infant mental health services from one 50‐bed NICU setting and describes family concerns, barriers to visitation, and utilization of mental health services during the pandemic. Concerns related to COVID‐19 rarely emerged as the primary presenting issue by the families referred for infant mental health services from April through December of 2020. However, a number of families indicated that infection concerns and visitation restrictions posed significant challenges to their parenting and/or coping. There were significant discrepancies noted between the visitation patterns of families with public and private insurance. Several adaptations were developed in response to the multiple challenges and threats to infant mental health present during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

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“…In April 2020, the Vermont Oxford Network, VON, in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Neonatal Perinatal Medicine (SONPM) conducted an audit to assess the impact of SARS-CoV2 on neonates and their families 83 . Of the 332 hospitals, 54% reported shortages of equipment, testing, or personnel; 73% reported minor disruptions to care for infants and families and 3% reported an inability to provide care to some, most, or all infants 82 .…”

Section: Routine Newborn Surveillance and Newborn/nicu Visitation Of Family Membersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some NICUs made strict visitation policies with exceptions on a case-by-case basis. This led to disparities in the NICU visitation by family members and lack of parental participation in family-centered rounds 83 . The AAP strongly advocated that “any policy restricting visitors for pediatric patients should be applied equally regardless of children’s race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, culture, and religion” to minimize health disparities 84 .…”

Section: Routine Newborn Surveillance and Newborn/nicu Visitation Of Family Membersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The AAP strongly advocated that “any policy restricting visitors for pediatric patients should be applied equally regardless of children’s race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, culture, and religion” to minimize health disparities 84 . Nonetheless, various social, emotional and psychological challenges were faced by family members during the separation of neonates staying for extended duration in the NICU 83 . Parental stress arising from NICU admission has been associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm babies 85 .…”

Section: Routine Newborn Surveillance and Newborn/nicu Visitation Of Family Membersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in Clinical Care of the Newborn During COVID-19 Pandemic

Doctor

Kamat

Sood

2021

Pediatric Clinics of North America

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Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has afflicted the health of women and children across all age groups. Since the outbreak of the pandemic in December 2019, various epidemiological, immunologic, clinical and pharmaceutical studies have been conducted across the world to understand its infectious characteristics, pathogenesis and clinical profile in affected individuals, with the hope of improving outcomes and ultimately leading to the development of vaccinations. COVID-19 has shown to affect pregnant women more seriously than non-pregnant women, endangering the health of the newborn. Various changes in the guidelines have been implemented in antenatal care of pregnant women, their delivery as well as newborn care during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the hope of reducing the risk of viral transmission and, in turn, improve outcomes in pregnant women and children. In this review, we highlight the current trends of clinical care in pregnant women and newborn during COVID 19 pandemic

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Advancing Health Equity by Translating Lessons Learned from NICU Family Visitations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cited by 16 publications

References 35 publications

The Impact of Restrictive Family Presence Policies in Response to COVID-19 on Family Integrated Care in the NICU: A Qualitative Study

The Impact of Restrictive Family Presence Policies in Response to COVID-19 on Family Integrated Care in the NICU: A Qualitative Study

Adaptation of infant mental health services to preterm infants and their families receiving neonatal intensive care unit services during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Changes in Clinical Care of the Newborn During COVID-19 Pandemic

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