Griffin Hospital return visit program for moms
and newborns produces surprising results
DERBY, CT - More than half of the mothers and newborns from this community have had free medical check-ups seventy two hours after discharge from Griffin Hospital for the past two years. The health assessments have identified problems in one of three of the 2,554 mothers and babies requiring care, follow-up or education. The problems range from jaundice in 16% of the babies to incision problems, post-partum blues and engorged breasts in mothers.
The Post Partum Return Visit Program was developed by Griffin's Childbirth Center nurses in response to the "Drive-Thru" delivery issue with the mandated short stays put in place by insurers and concerns that mothers and babies were leaving the hospital too soon to identify medical problems and without the knowledge needed to assess and care for their new baby. At discharge, mothers and babies are given an appointment to return, or have a home visit, within 72 hours for a free assessment by the nurses who cared for them during their stay. At the end of two years 92% of mothers and babies returned. About 65% of the community's newborns are delivered at Griffin Hospital.
Of the 1,219 babies returning, 265 had jaundice, 23 had weight loss of 10% or more, 57 had umbilical cord problems, 50 had feeding problems and 44 others had problems including a fractured clavicle, eye infections and thrush.
Of the 1,335 mothers returning, 112 had engorged breasts, 60 had hemorrhoids, 32 had post-partum blues, 31 incision problems, 10 bleeding problems and 92 others a variety of different problems.
A new federal law requiring longer stays takes effect in 1998.
However, based on the experience with the program the Childbirth Center nurses will continue to offer it because they believe that the visits will continue to identify medical and educational needs and provide information and emotional support to new mothers. To complement the program staff developed a "teaching menu" through which patients identify what they want to learn about before discharge, created a booklet of tips and warning signs and provide telephone support before and after the return visit. The check-ups are performed as part of normal duties with no additional cost to the hospital.
Griffin vice president Bill Powanda said: "The program responds to industry change, meets patient needs and improves quality of care with no additional cost. Many new babies got a healthier start on life and many mothers had medical problems found and treated as a result of the program. Our Childbirth Center nurses deserve praise for developing this wonderful program and for their commitment to their patients."
The program has won the 1996 Connecticut Nurses' Association Excellence in the Workplace Award, the Connecticut Quality Improvement Partnership Award, its top award presented in 1996 to business, education and service organizations and is a semi-finalist in the USA TODAY/Rochester Institute of Technology 1997 Quality Cup Award Program.