In this issue of Preemie Matters: New Members • NPIHC Webinar: Multidisciplinary Guidelines for the Care of Late Preterm Infants • Critical Shortages Affecting NICU Infants • National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) • Preemie Parent Alliance Summit • Breast Milk Use in NICUs Remains Too Low
New Members
Join us in welcoming the Coalition's newest members: National Association of Neonatal Nurses • National Association of County and City Health Officials • Pennsylvania Premie Network • The Tiny Miracles Foundation • Parent Connection • Texas Parent to Parent • Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin Learn more about National Premature Infant Health Coalition membership and complete the online application on our website.
NPIHC Webinar: Multidisciplinary Guidelines for the Care of Late Preterm Infants
Mark your calendar and register now for our next webinar, set for August 8 at 2 p.m. EDT. Late preterm infants are often treated as "slightly small, almost term babies," yet babies born at 34 0/7 - 36 6/7 weeks gestation have significantly higher morbidity and mortality rates due to their significant, if not always obvious, immaturity. The "Multidisciplinary Guidelines for the Care of Late Preterm Infants" is an evidence-based approach to providing safe and supportive care for this vulnerable group. Join presenter Raylene Phillips, MD, IBCLC, FAAP, who will review this new resource and describe how its use will lead to improved outcomes for late preterm infants by providing guidance, education, and support for families and the healthcare providers who care for them. The session is appropriate for parents and other advocates, professionals in the field of infant health, and physicians and clinicians providing care to premature infants and their families.
Critical Shortages Affecting NICU Infants
Have you seen our new blog post from Dr. Mitch Goldstein on the nation's drug shortage crisis affecting fragile infants? Recent media coverage has put a spotlight on widespread shortages of critical medications and nutrients affecting hospitalized preemies and other patients. A May 22nd story in the Washingtonian reported "rationing, hoarding, and bartering of critical nutrients" in Washington, DC facilities, and "doctors reporting conditions normally seen only in developing countries." In late March, NBC News reported on the national scarcity of injectable zinc, "in such short supply that at least seven extremely premature infants in the U.S. developed horrifying skin lesions and life-threatening reactions after their hospitals ran out." CDC began its coverage of these shortages in the February 22, 2013 edition of their Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). And as with this new blog post from Texas Children's Hospital, individual facilities and providers continue to report on how shortages are affecting them, through outlets like social media, making the case that the problem will not "self-correct" and that federal legislation has not yet moved forward to address it. In one possible - though limited and temporary - step forward, USA Today reported that U.S. health regulators are allowing overseas imports of one critical IV drug formula used to nourish preemies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says new supplies of the drug total parenteral nutrition, are being made available to U.S. patients through this arrangement, as a temporary measure to ease shortages triggered by the shutdown of the drug's primary U.S. manufacturer. Watch our Facebook page and Twitter #NPIHC as we continue to follow these shortages and the measures addressing them.
National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN)
NANN, the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, is the longest established professional voice supporting neonatal nurses through excellence in practice, education, research, and professional development. NANN was founded in 1984 in California by five neonatal nurses. NANN celebrated the first Neonatal Nurses Day in 2000, and in 2001 introduced their journal, Advances in Neonatal Care. More recently, in 2011, they launched MyNANN, a private online social network for members, and released the second edition of Policies, Procedures, and Competences for Neonatal Nursing Care. NANN's 29th Annual Educational Conference takes place this fall in Nashville, TN. Connect with NANN and get their latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
Preemie Parent Alliance Summit: October 4-6, 2013
Registration is open for the Third Annual Preemie Parent Alliance Summit, set for October 4-6, 2013 in Nashville, TN. Join preemie parent leaders and professionals for a learning and networking opportunity aimed at working together to support the families of premature infants. Among the event's notable speakers is PTSD expert Michele Rosenthal with a keynote, "Reclaiming Life Beyond the NICU: Redefining Who You Are and How You Live." Learn more about the work of the Preemie Parent Alliance at the PPA website.
Breast Milk Use in NICUs Remains Too Low
A new study published in Pediatrics finds that the use of breast milk in advanced-care NICUs is increasing, but remains too low. Using CDC data, the research team found that only about one-third of NICUs routinely provide human milk, whether from a baby's mother or donated -- suggesting that many medically-fragile babies are not receiving optimal protection from infections and other morbidities. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all preterm infants receive human milk. "Hospitals... can further support the care of medically fragile infants by adopting policies and practices to support mothers in being able to provide their breast milk to their infants," the authors write.
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Information is reported as provided and does not necessarily represent the view of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. A complete copy of HMHB’s disclaimer is available on our website.