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Preparing For Home

Early in Your Hospital Stay the following are important steps for planning your baby’s transition to home:

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  • Your discharge address and phone numbers are very important for us to have. We need these to set up the necessary follow-up care, such as home nursing visits (Kaiser), therapies, or delivery of home equipment. Please tell us if this information changes.

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  • Health insurance plays a big role in discharge planning. Most insurance plans (Medicaid and private insurance) require that you tell them of your baby’s birth within the first 30 days of life.

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  • You must choose a pediatrician (or other primary care provider) before your baby can go home. This doctor will care for your baby during regular check-ups, including baby shots. If you have Kaiser insurance the discharge coordinator can help you find a doctor or clinic. If you have any other insurance the social worker can help you in finding a doctor or clinic.

 

  • You will need to buy or find a car seat prior to your baby going home. There are helpful hints in the car seat section of this website.

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During Your Hospital Stay

  • Involve yourselves as much as you can in your baby’s care. The more you are involved with your baby in the hospital, the easier it will be for you to take care of him or her once you go home.

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  • As your baby’s discharge date gets closer, find family or friends who can help take care of your other children. This will allow you to spend more time with your new baby, and focus on feedings and any special need she or she may have.

 

Infant Readiness for Discharge

 

Your baby must be able to do the following in order to go home:

  • Take all feedings by mouth (or stomach feeding tube if applicable) and have steady weight gain

 

  • Maintain temperature in an open crib and continue to gain weight

 

  • No apnea spells for 5 days

 

  • No countable bradys with desaturations for 5 days

     

About 3 Days Prior to Discharge

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  • Family and medical team decide on a tentative discharge date

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  • Nurses will make sure state hearing screen and metabolic screens are completed

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  • Eye exams (when indicated) will be completed with follow-up appointment scheduled

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  • Pediatrician follow-up appointment will be made:

    • Non-Kaiser appointments will be 24-48 hours from discharge (72 hours max if going home on a Friday)

    • Kaiser sends perinatal homecare to see you and your baby at home within 24-48 hours.  You will have an office visit about a week after discharge.

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  • Specialist appointments (when indicated) will be made

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  • Family will schedule a date to room in, if needed

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  • Discharge coordinator and social worker will finalize arrangements for home supplies and equipment, if needed

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  • Home equipment is delivered to home and hospital, if needed

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  • WIC prescription will be completed by doctor or NNP (if eligible)

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  • Prescriptions can be written and filled in pharmacy. Family should pick up medicines before leaving the hospital.

 

Day of Discharge

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  • Talk with your baby’s nurse about the approximate time the baby will be discharged

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  • Discharge orders and a complete discharge summary will need to be written by doctor or NNP

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  • Bedside nurse will review orders, instructions and discharge instructions with family

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  • Family receives copies of these papers

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  • If home nursing visit is applicable, they will call you and set up date and time of visit with you

     


    Congratulations on your graduation to home! You have successfully completed your NICU Journey. Please call us with any questions you have once you are home. We always welcome return visits to the NICU from our graduate families. It has been our pleasure caring for you and your infant(s).

     

    -The Entire NICU Staff

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