A role for community health care providers in neonatal follow-up

Abstract

It is imperative that community health care providers are adequately informed of the nursery course and the individualized follow-up plan of each baby sent back to his community for convalescent and postdischarge care. Community hospital-based physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians and public health nurses can cooperate with their counterparts in tertiary care centres to assist the primary care physician in providing quality services to ensure optimal support, stimulation and development of these preterm infants. Well-organized follow-up appointments can greatly alleviate the stress and anxiety of parents faced with the challenges involved in the care of their 'special' newborns. The role of community health care providers in post-NICU care is of paramount importance to tertiary care centres, which need to keep their beds available for high-level care, and to parents, who appreciate being closer to home and family as early as is safely possible. Lastly, one can be sure that compliance with follow-up will be better it the primary care team is 'in the loop' and sees its role in neonatal follow-up as a vital part of the patient's care. ©2006 Pulsus Group Inc. All rights reserved.