Issue
The article titled “To Help Newborns Dependent On
Opioids, Hospitals Rethink Mom's Role” discusses the idea of changing the way
healthcare providers interact, view, and work alongside mothers addicted to
drugs specifically opiods while their babies are in the NICU. The article has a
great viewpoint of the current practice of removing the baby from the mothers
care, to trying to help both mother and baby without judgment. The hospital
brings the mother into the hospital to help take care of the baby while in the
NICU, which is making a significant impact in the care of the babies. The
hospital in Connecticut trains staff to further understand addiction in order
to treat both mother and baby, by utilizing the NICU space differently where
mother and baby stay in the hospital together. To hear or read more about the story go to the
link below:
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/03/26/471289969/to-help-newborns-hooked-on-opioids-hospitals-rethink-mom-s-role?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=health&utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews
Service delivery system
The service delivery system that should be addressing the issue
of addiction, hospital stays, and how hospitals interact with mother and baby
should be rooted in the health and social delivery system. The healthcare
system and our hospitals in America should adopt this viewpoint, training, and
idea that in order to successfully treat babies addicted to opioids we need to
also address the mother and family. This change in views and ideas can be
addressed through policy.
Policies
The policies that I would develop would be for hospitals to
train their NICU staff on addiction to foster empathy for the mother and reduce
judgment towards her.
Policy: Hospitals will mandate all medical/health professional
staff members to participate in a psychosocial training about addiction and
working with individuals that are addicts.
Data
The data needed in order to support the policy would be the
research that shows the recovery of both mother and child after the stay in a
hospital set up much like the NICU in the Hospital of Central Connecticut.
Currently, the article only discusses specific case examples; however a
comparative study of this intervention versus traditional intervention would be
helpful for the implementation of the policy.
Implications for occupational therapy
The
implications for the Occupational Therapy field are immense, as professionals
we often work with individuals that are struggling with addiction within the
mental health realm; as well as, working in the NICU with both mother and baby.
An occupational therapist would be a great person to work alongside both mother
and baby to provide assistance with feeding, bonding, sleeping, etc all within
the NICU. The OT would also be optimal in discussing discharge planning for
both mother, baby, and the family as far as what to expect, a feeding schedule,
sleeping schedule, etc. The OT is client centered and would allow for the
mother and the family to have their concerns met along with the care of their
new baby. The OT can also find resources within the community to refer the
mother to such as a 12 step program, family physicians, and support groups to
help her work on her self-care.
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