Innovation

Increasing Breastfeeding Rates in the NICU via Utilization of the Neonatal Transport Team

Education, Innovation, Lactation, NICU, Patient Care / By

The benefits of human milk and colostrum are well recognized, specifically for an infant requiring admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Human milk offers an optimized defense against such co-morbidities as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), sepsis, respiratory infections, chronic lung disease and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Enteral feedings are better tolerated, feeding progression enhanced …

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Feed Order Standardization in the NICU

Change, Innovation, NICU, Nutrition, Safety, Technology / By

Whether it’s your favorite online store or food delivery service, we’re all used to choosing a product or service and having it delivered without difficulty. When was the last time what you ordered was not what you received?  In neonatal intensive care units everywhere, professionals spend hours each day discussing the merits of one therapeutic …

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Do You Want To Build A Milk Lab?

Dietitian, Formula Room, Innovation, NICU, Patient Care, Technology / By

The goal of this blog is to provide my own “hindsight,” when building the NICU milk/formula lab; and things that helped me with its successful construction and implementation.  Throughout my career in neonatal and pediatric nursing, I’ve been fortunate to experience moving into new clinical units. My first was as a charge nurse, where our team …

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Design In Health Care Software

Change, Innovation, Patient Care, Safety, Technology / By

I have worked for over 25 years creating and building IT applications for large and small companies. Designing with purpose feels more critical in Health Care than any other industry I’ve worked in. Keriton started as a pair of mobile applications focused specifically on Breast Milk Management.  We managed inventory and ensured feeds were validated for …

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Human Milk Analyzers Are Having A Moment: Part 1

Education, Innovation, Metrics, Milk Room, NICU, Nutrition, Patient Care, Technology / By

Devices and kits are becoming more prevalent among hospitals, donor banks and consumers as the trend continues to expand. Human milk analyzers are having a moment. This category includes devices that use light to analyze milk for macronutrient composition, as well as kits with test strips. But why is the moment now?  Lactating parents, donor …

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Manufacturers Barcode Scanning

Innovation, Patient Care, Safety, Technology / By

“Should we be scanning breast milk?” “Ok, but what about the fortifiers? And bases for complex formulas? How about ready-to-feeds?” We hear these conversations at NICUs and children’s hospitals often. For some clinical nutrition programs, it’s important to scan a variety of products, in addition to human milk. Two-person administration verifications for maternal and donor …

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How Connecticut Children’s Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week

Innovation, Lactation / By

As with most things in 2020, World Breastfeeding Week looked a little different than it usually does. This was no exception at Connecticut Children’s, but they did not let it stop the celebrations. Connecticut Children’s typically partners with Hartford Hospital to have a large party with games, prizes, snacks — many hospitals and speakers attend. …

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