2135V - Oral Feeding Decision-Making in a Level III NICU

Neonatal therapists are well accustomed to the fact that the ability to consume all intake by mouth is a discharge criteria from the NICU. Therefore, infants are often pushed to consume oral nutrition when not clinically appropriate or when demonstrating disengagement. To improve developmental outcomes, collaboration, provider buy-in, as well as parent satisfaction, a NICU Oral Feeding Algorithm was created by the lead author and implemented in a Level III NICU. Since its creation, perceptions of neonatal therapy have strengthened, team members see themselves as active participants in the infant's feeding plan, and provider buy-in has expanded. During this session, the lead author and coinvestigator will educate regarding the development and implementation of this evidence-based process improvement.