TeleNICU Enhances Newborn Care at Ashley Regional Medical Center
September 16, 2024
Two and a half years ago Ashley Regional Medical Center (ARMC) and the University of Utah (U of U) Health partnered to bring TeleNICU to Vernal. The partnership includes on-demand telehealth consultation with board-certified neonatologists at the University of Utah. Additionally, there is an annual in-person training at ARMC, plus RNs and RTs are invited to travel to the U of U NICU and engage in hands on training with a 1:1 mentor, bringing this knowledge and care back to the patients of Vernal. To stay connected, a monthly outcomes and feedback call occur between the entities.
Although Ashley Regional Medical Center has in-person, local physician oversight of the Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the additional support and on-demand consultations are helpful when a newborn is delivered, and issues are identified. In these cases, any of the nurses and providers at Ashley Regional can call a U of U neonatologist with the press of a button. The TeleNICU camera can zoom in to see the baby so that the physician on the other end of the screen can help assess the situation, often consulting on identifying root issues and whether it’s safe for the baby to be cared for in the Level II NICU at ARMC or if they require a higher level of care at the U of U.
On Monday, September 9th, the University of Utah Health team, Kelli Lund, MD, TeleNICU program director and Bobbie Carlisle, RN-C, MSN, TeleNICU coordinator, were on-site at Ashley Regional to provide advanced neonatal skills training to Ashley Regional OB, pediatric and emergency room providers. The training included lumbar punctures, resuscitation skills, chest tubes, needle aspirations, intubations and central lines using umbilical cord catheters.
“It is really an honor to work together with the amazing team at Ashley Regional Medical Center. The advanced skills education sessions are aimed at maintenance of procedural skills in newborn care through simulation and practice. But these days are about so much more! The multidisciplinary sessions are a forum for mutual exchange of information and team building between Ashley Regional and the University of Utah,” Lund said.
She continued, “We have so much fun teaching and learning from each other, with a common goal of taking the best possible care of babies and their families. We hope to continue to have a wonderful partnership with Ashley Regional through the TeleNICU and education programs.”
The trainings and TeleNICU are in place to ensure that as many babies as possible can remain close to home in Vernal. Throughout the recent training, several physicians and medical students took their turn learning or refreshing their skills.
Dr. Shawn Cooper, a board-certified pediatrician at Ashley Regional enjoys these trainings. He stated, “I make sure I spend time training with the goal of improving care. Between improving my skills and the TeleNICU, we have proven that we now provide higher care in the Basin.”
As a teaching hospital, the U of U has a team of advanced and experienced physicians. The knowledge they provide during the TeleNICU consults is invaluable to the care provided to the youngest patients at Ashely Regional. “I have always had fantastic experience with TeleNICU. It’s nice having that expert over your shoulder helping advise for patient care,” explained Dr. Mark Henderson, board-certified family medicine provider.
The one-click connection from the ARMC nursery staff to the neonatology group at U of U enhances the care available to patients, with the goal of keeping families together right here in Vernal.
Carlisle stated, “As the TeleNICU coordinator, I take great pride in observing the professional growth and development of our teams through continuous education. At Ashley Regional Medical Center, I have had the privilege of witnessing this firsthand. The staff here are deeply committed to providing exceptional care and staying abreast of the latest advancements in medical practices. Through our educational initiatives, I have seen them become increasingly confident and proficient in their skills, which ultimately enhances the quality of care they deliver to their patients.”
To learn more about the partnership and TeleNICU, visit AshleyRegional.com/birthing-center/telenicu.
