By offering phototherapy at home, we can ensure that newborns can go home earlier with their parents. Or we can ensure that newborns can stay at home with their parents after a home birth.
In many discussions about this, similar questions often recur. How could this work? In this blog, we describe an example of what a process of phototherapy at home might look like. This process arises after agreements with all parties involved. In 2018, the Jeroen Bosch Hospital introduced phototherapy at home. The process is as follows.
Process
When a newborn is eligible for phototherapy at home, the process looks approximately like this:
- Child appears jaundiced and has a high bilirubin level. A decision is made about the use of phototherapy at home.
- Parents receive an explanation on the ward about the use of the BiliCocoon at home.
- Parents sign a form and have shared responsibility for the correct use of the therapy.
- Parents can also watch a video for instructions on the BiliCocoon.
- A suitcase with BiliCocoon, eye protection, instructions, and possibly material for blood collection is provided.
- At home, the parents immediately place the child in the BiliCocoon BAG.
- Blood is drawn every 24 hours until the level is at the desired value.
- Once the therapy is completed, the suitcase is returned to the hospital.
- The device is returned to the hospital and cleaned first.
- The device is checked by the Medical Technology department and then made ready for new use.
Eligibility for phototherapy at home
It is also good to consider in advance what conditions are necessary before the child and parents can go home with phototherapy. Make a choice with which group you want to start. A step-by-step approach is recommended to become familiar with the process as a department and thus be able to adjust agreements in the initial phase.
Would you like to know more about Phototherapy at home? Please feel free to contact us. Also read the blog about an initial impetus towards Phototherapy at home.
