Newborn Clinic: A Novel Model to Provide Timely, Comprehensive Care to Newborns Following Nursery Discharge

Abstract

Ensuring safe and timely follow-up after well baby nursery (WBN) discharge is an ongoing challenge. This study demonstrates the efficacy of a novel model for follow-up, the Newborn Clinic (NBC), in reducing time to outpatient follow-up after WBN discharge. Our retrospective chart review of 17 952 newborns found that time to follow-up visit decreased significantly following NBC establishment. Emergency department visits, a marker of infant morbidity, were slightly increased in the post-establishment cohort. There was no difference, however, in hospital readmissions. Analysis within the post-establishment cohort showed that newborns with jaundice, a high-risk group, were much more likely to have early follow-up if their visit was scheduled with NBC. Our study demonstrates that NBC is an effective model for decreasing time from WBN discharge to follow-up visit. It should be considered as an initiative to run concurrently with expedited newborn discharge initiatives so that safe follow-up need not be sacrificed.

Decreasing the Newborn Birth Hospitalization Length of Stay

“…Multiple studies have shown a decrease in LOS. 10,11 Given overall trends of decreasing LOS after surgical procedures, it was not surprising that LOS after the CS also significantly decreased. 12 We anticipated that a birth time before 2pm would increase the likelihood of an early discharge.…”

“…Multiple studies have shown a decrease in LOS. 10 11 Given overall trends of decreasing LOS after surgical procedures, it was not surprising that LOS after the CS also significantly decreased. 12…”

Relationship-Centered Care in a Novel Dual-Visit Model COVID Nursery Follow-Up Clinic

“…The COVID Nursery Follow-Up Clinic was created by modifying an existing in-person Newborn Clinic framework and was physically located in our children's hospital separate from our hospital-affiliated, community-based primary care sites (4). Clinic personnel consisted of a front office staff person, a medical assistant, and 2 pediatricians dedicated to this clinic.…”