Pediatricians Discuss Challenges of Caring For High-Risk Infants After Discharge

Newswise — Pediatricians in practice and training will be discussing how Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Follow-up Programs can best help pediatricians care for premature and other high-risk infants after discharge. The "NICU Follow-up Forum" will take place at this year's AAP National Conference and Exhibition. The discussion will be directed by two neonatologists, Sonia Imaizumi MD, FAAP, Chair of the AAP Section on Home Care, and Ricki Goldstein MD, FAAP, Associate Professor of Medicine and director of the High-Risk Infant Follow-up Program at Duke University Medical Center. Some of the topics to be discussed include:

· Challenges for pediatricians in following high risk infants after discharge

· What pediatricians feel is the "ideal NICU follow-up program"

· Services that pediatricians feel should be offered by these programs

· Education of pediatricians concerning post-discharge care for high-risk infants

· Best practices around the country

Drs. Imaizumi and Goldstein plan to continue this discussion yearly at the AAP National Conference with new topics relevant to improving the follow-up care of high-risk infants.