RCNIC Environment: Family-Centered Care, Support and Resources
The Regional Center for Newborn Intensive Care (RCNIC) at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center fosters an environment focused on the patient and family. The RCNIC's philosophy of care is one that supports babies and families both physically and emotionally throughout their care. Some of the efforts that promote this atmosphere include:
Family-Centered Care Philosophy
Family-Centered care is a philosophy of care adapted by the RCNIC, which incorporates the family as part of the health care team. Families are encouraged to be a part of the medical process during their infant's hospitalization.
Three parent care rooms are available for families to spend time learning their infant's care to prepare for discharge to home. Parents receive support by the nursing staff during this time but are encouraged to assume as much of the infant's care as possible. This helps to build confidence and ease the transition to home.
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Developmental Supportive Care Philosophy
The RCNIC is dedicated to providing the best developmental care to premature and medically fragile infants through the use of developmentally supportive positioning, environmental modifications (reducing light and noise), and individualized care. Babies who receive both excellent medical care and supportive developmental care have better long-term outcomes.
The Developmental Care Committee is a team of health care professionals including occupational therapists, registered nurses, respiratory therapists, early intervention coordinators, audiologists, and a Child Life specialist. The committee's focus is to provide staff education regarding developmental care as well as modify the unit's environment to best meet the needs of premature / critically ill newborns.
The RCNIC supports early Kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin contact, between the premature baby and mother or father. The neonatologist will approve for the mother or father to do Kangaroo care when the infant is medically stable.
The RCNIC has four developmental observers who have progressed through an intense didactic training experience of more than one year, and who have acquired their Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) certification.
Behavioral observations by a NIDCAP certified caregiver are performed on all infants born at less than 1,500 grams (3 pounds, 5 ounces), or if other risk factors are present. This assessment provides the basis for care-giving and helps to structure the infant's environment and intervention to meet his or her current developmental needs.
The assessment identifies emerging strengths and weaknesses of an individual infant in order to meet his or her particular needs. Observations are updated by the NIDCAP certified individual, occupational therapists, parents and other bedside care professionals.
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Parent Care Rooms
Parent care rooms are a place for parents and infants to be together in a home-like setting, so that parents can gain the experience and confidence they need to take their babies home after hospitalization in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU).
Preparation for discharge begins at the child's admission, and an extended stay in the parent care room is the last step. Here, parents can care for their babies themselves, but with the reassurance of knowing that doctors and nurses are nearby if needed.
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Jeffrey Chase Herold RCNIC Parent Library
Studies show that babies benefit greatly from listening to music and being read to by their parents. The Jeffrey Chase Herold RCNIC Parent Library provides a collection of books and audiotapes, and parents are encouraged to bond with their babies through reading and listening to music.
Donated by Jeffrey and Shannon Herold in memory of their son, the library provides a quiet refuge for parents and family members. The facility also includes computer access and a private phone line.
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For more information about the RCNIC, please call 513-636-4466 or toll-free, 1-800-227-5560.
