Women & Children’s staff at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital announced their participation in a statewide initiative in collaboration with the Perinatal Quality Collaborative of North Carolina (PQCNC). This partnership aims to develop evidence-based guidelines to improve care for late preterm infants (LPI), who are born between 35+0/7 and 36+6/7 weeks gestation.
According to PQCNC, the rate of late preterm births has been increasing over time, and it has become evident that these infants are at higher risk for various health challenges, including increased morbidity and mortality. Late preterm infants require specialized care, including heightened awareness of issues related to feeding, temperature regulation, jaundice, infection, blood sugar regulation and discharge readiness. This initiative seeks to address these needs by standardizing care practices across hospitals in North Carolina.
In North Carolina alone, late preterm births account for approximately 8,000 deliveries each year. However, significant variations exist in how different providers and hospitals manage LPI care, particularly concerning feeding, breastfeeding support, treatment of hyperbilirubinemia, hypoglycemia and safe sleep counseling.
These infants often face extended hospital stays and are at higher risk for readmission, with studies showing their readmission rates to be 1.8 times higher than those of full-term infants. Addressing challenges early and consistently across the state is a primary goal of this new initiative.
The PQCNC, through the statewide care of the LPI collaboration, will support perinatal quality improvement teams in hospitals like Moore Regional to create and implement these critical guidelines. These efforts will ensure that late preterm infants receive the comprehensive, high-quality care they need from the moment they are born.
“We are committed to providing the best possible care for our most vulnerable patients,” said Holly Eatmon, DNP, RNC-NIC, clinical educator in NICU and pediatrics and PQCNC team leader for FirstHealth in a press release. “This initiative will help us standardize and improve care practices for late preterm infants, ensuring that they receive the support they need during this critical time. Our PQCNC team is nurse-led and includes collaboration with multiple health care disciplines. In addition to improving bedside care for LPIs, this is an example of how nurses are empowered to make positive change with lasting impact.”
Pediatric hospitalist John Kerr III, M.D., added, “Late preterm infants often face unique challenges, but with the right care and attention, we can significantly improve their health outcomes. This collaboration with PQCNC is an important step in that direction.”
As the initiative rolls out, parents will be guided through the process, receiving the education and support necessary to ensure their baby’s health and readiness to go home.
Feature photo: Mom Hunter Rosser is pictured with her baby, who was born early and received specialized care as a late preterm infant at Moore Regional. Hunter is a nurse in the NICU at MRH.
Contributed article and photos.
