The importance of individualised and family-centred care in promoting the growth and well-being of critically ill newborns and infants was the focus of the first-of-its-kind Neonatal Developmental Care Symposium held recently at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)’s Women’s Hospital.

Some babies are born with a high risk of medical complications and illnesses that require highly specialised care in neonatal intensive care units and special care nurseries. The developmental care approach originates from the idea that environmental factors play a key role in affecting health outcomes of high-risk infants in neonatal intensive care units. Modifications to the nursing environment and care practices by healthcare professionals, parents and caregivers can result in improved quality of life for these infants.

Dr Hilal al-Rifai, medical director and director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Women’s Hospital, said: “The symposium reflects our commitment in ensuring that the safest, most effective and compassionate care is available to each and every one of our patients. We recognise that the essence of our work lies in the compassion that we extend to not only the infants requiring critical care, but also to their families. Using developmental care strategies, we can provide individualised care to preterm and high-risk babies in order to support their
optimal growth.”

The day-long symposium was attended by more than 150 healthcare professionals, comprising developmental care teams, neonatologists, nurses and other allied health professionals working in the area of infant care. The main aims of the symposium were to encourage healthcare professionals to assess current neonatal care practices, learn about the developmental needs of infants and work together with families to ensure that they are addressed early and more
efficiently. 

Participants had the opportunity to learn from international expert Prof Nikk Conneman, consultant neonatologist and director of the Sophia Neonatal Individual Developmental Care and Assessment Programme Training Center in the Netherlands.

“The concept of developmental care is a necessity now. We have learned through images gathered from a number of Magnetic Resonance Imaging tests that the brain of high-risk or preterm babies develops better with individualised care. This kind of care understands that each individual is unique and has unique strengths, and when provided with the right kind of care, has the ability to live and function normally,” said Prof Conneman.

The symposium also highlighted the latest developments and advances in the care of high-risk and critically ill infants and featured lectures on topics such as technical revolution in NICU, ways to enhance sensory and brain development and the importance of adopting an individualised and family-centred developmental care approach.

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