The application of hospice concepts to neonatal care
J. M. Whitfield, R. E. Siegel, A. D. Glicken, R. J. Harmon, L. K. Powers and E. J. Goldson
Despite impressive improvements in outcome for infants cared for in
neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), large tertiary-care referral units
still admit a substantial number of infants who will not survive or,
because of a predictably very poor outcome, should not be offered modern
life-support techniques. Dealing with these infants can be extremely taxing
on both the family and the staff. We have recently adapted the concepts
first described in adult hospice care to the care of the dying neonate and
his family. By providing a "Family Room" that is private yet close to the
NICU and by training the staff in more supportive approaches toward these
families, we have been able to deal with the problem of the dying newborn
in a manner that has been beneficial to both families and staff.
