We’re excited to share this new course with you. It received rave reviews – some included below – when presented at NANT 15.
“The presenters were awesome! Their passion and enthusiasm were palpable. They provided practical strategies on how to integrate the therapy team into the golden hour. I love the term Neuroprotector!” – Ramya Kumar, MS, CCC-SLP, BCSS, CNT, IBCLC, NTMTC, NDS, SBCS, TIP
“This presentation offered a new perspective on the roles of neonatal therapists in deliveries, focusing on infant neuroprotection. Also, how best to utilize our skills to optimize neurodevelopmental outcomes.” – Lisa Snisky OTD, OTR/L, CNT, IBCLC, NTMTC
Speakers: Carrie Sawulski, PT PCS and Alex Robins, MS, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC
Course Description: With an increased awareness of the fragility of brain development during critical periods, it is essential that neurodevelopmental outcomes become a focus of Golden Hour processes. As a part of an interdisciplinary team, neonatal therapy has an essential role of minimizing stress and pain during the admission process and supporting family centered care from the first minutes to hours of an infant’s life.
Through astute observation, the skill of the neonatal therapist is essential in identifying noxious stimuli present during the admission process. The expertise of the neonatal therapist is also imperative for task and environmental modification to mitigate pain and stress and promote comfort for the infant while also supporting staff in stabilization. The therapist’s role in the Golden Hour admission process for infants born <31 weeks or <1000 grams is to decrease negative stimuli, provide containment and support positioning, and promote a culture of family involvement through offering education about development. With a focus on optimizing neurodevelopmental outcomes, the therapist can also support other staff members during the admission process with the overall goal of decreasing IVH rates, decreasing hypothermia and hypoglycemia, and decreasing the time from admission to closure of the isolette top after stabilization. Pervasive change and culture shift can also be achieved through skilled education of other staff members to implement developmentally supportive strategies during Golden Hour admissions in which therapists are unavailable.
A shift in focus on the importance of developmental care beginning during the admission process permeates to general care of small babies including more consistent use of four handed care, early skin to skin holding/positive touch within the isolette and limiting unnecessary or noxious multi-modal stimulation. A multi-disciplinary collaborative approach can create practice changes and promote a more developmentally supportive team approach from admission to discharge.
Target Audience: OT, SLP, PT, RN, MD, and Neonatal professionals
Level: Intermediate
CE Credit: PT, OT, SLP – 1 hour
Course Fee: $57 for Non-members or Free for NANT Members
“These two were such a great team! I love how passionate they are. They reminded us that we are the experts in our field and should support and use our voice where appropriate to help change the outcomes of these babies and their families.”- Melissa Tally, PT, MPT, ATP
“This presentation empowered me to return to our NICU and advocate for our ELBW infants, and I have already since adopted the ‘neuroprotector’ verbiage in our documentation.” – Elise Carlson, OTD, OTR/L, NTMTC