Totally Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Loma Linda, CA, enrolled ten multidisciplinary team members in the Ignite Core Training and Mentoring Program for Neonatal Therapists to enhance their expertise in neonatal development and care of hospitalized infants. This educational investment was for their Totally Infants Program (TIP), where they support neonates with medically complex conditions and significant feeding challenges in their transition from the NICU to home.
According to Michelle Larriba, Director of Staff Development, their decision to pursue Ignite stemmed from a desire to cultivate strong champions of neonatal development, empowering them as internal team educators. To secure funding, the group developed a proposal outlining how the education of this core team would benefit the hospital. They collaborated with hospital executives and the Board of Directors to obtain funding for the Ignite Program.
Delia Linch, MSN, RN, PHN CRRN, manager of the acute rehab unit, stated, “I cannot stress enough how beneficial the Ignite program is. The support from the instructors and the guidance from experienced therapists are invaluable. I wholeheartedly recommend enrolling in the Ignite program. It is a journey worth taking.”
To better understand the collective impact of their Ignite experience, the NANT team asked what this group found to be most valuable and what practice changes occurred following their mentorship.
Here are some of the insights shared:
- Dr. Tad Wilson, Medical Director of the Rehabilitation Program —The Ignite Program helped to create a standard language around infant neurodevelopment and deepened our understanding of how the environment can influence it.
- Kristen Gordon PT, DPT, CNS, Director of Rehabilitation — The program gives each professional the knowledge to be a well-rounded practitioner and encourages us to utilize a team approach — including collaborating with family as we consider medical needs and how every interaction impacts the infants’ neurodevelopment.
- Lauren Kelly CCC-SLP — Ignite training has allowed me to be more present in each interaction with infants and newborns, thinking more outside the box and considering more variables. Specifically, what environmental changes, and external support will make the difference in their overall feeding skills and how to better involve parents in the education/training process.
- Delia Linch, MSN, RN PHN, CRRN, Manager of the Acute Rehab Unit — The module training presentations are well done for experienced professionals. I appreciated the PowerPoint and the assessment after each module to challenge my knowledge.
- Lisa Timmons MSN, RN, Director of Staff Education — The Ignite Guidance Calls made it easy to reach out if there were any questions.
- Lauren Kelly CCC-SLP — The Ignite Program prioritized learning information in a detailed yet timely manner that accommodated our busy schedules.
- Julie Lindemann CTRS, CIMI, Recreational Therapist Supervisor, Infant Massage Instructor— I have been able to better educate nursing staff on why I am doing what I am doing during my therapy sessions.
- Kristen Gordon PT, DPT, CNS, Director of Rehabilitation —The NANT and Ignite Communities have supported my learning experience by offering mentorship and community with the Facebook group and continued access to the reference materials including the recorded Ignite calls.
- Alanna Massucci COTA/L— I would strongly encourage and recommend the Ignite Program to any therapist working in a hospital setting or with this population of infants because the knowledge is easy to learn, understand, and implement into treatment.
According to Kristen Gordon, PT, DPT, CNS, Director of Rehabilitation, group enrollment in Ignite was extremely beneficial to their team cohesion. She shared, “Prior to taking Ignite, I had taken other continuing education courses to increase my knowledge and skills with the NICU and post NICU population. I attempted to share [the information] with my team and others involved, however there seemed to be limited buy in… Once we took Ignite as a group with other disciplines including nursing, the buy in grew. There was a new understanding of why specific interventions were chosen, or specific areas were monitored.” Following this Ignite experience, Kristen shared that her team is united in their vision for the TIP Program where she is working with other department leaders on quality improvement initiatives and future program development.
The experience of Totally Kids Rehabilitation Hospital underscores the importance of comprehensive, team-based training in neonatal care, particularly in preparing therapists and other healthcare professionals to meet the unique needs of infants transitioning from the NICU to rehabilitation settings. The team’s proactive approach to enhancing their skills and fostering collaboration exemplifies a commitment to providing the highest quality of care to their patients.
