Integrated Neonatal Therapist

Neonatal Therapy

A Neonatal Therapist is an occupational therapist, physical therapist or speech language pathologist who provides direct patient care and/or consultative services for the premature and/or medically complex infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Neonatal Therapy strives to maximize developmental outcomes, support infant mental health, and facilitate family interaction. This specialized field of therapy therefore contributes to the optimization of each infant’s development at the earliest point in the lifespan.

Integrated Neonatal Therapist

The integrated model of neonatal therapy is a model of therapy service in which therapists have NICU-specific staffing, training, competencies, and knowledge to appropriately and safely serve this patient population and unit.

The integrated model holds the patient as the center of care. All decisions regarding training, staffing, productivity and treatment must be made in the best interest of NICU patients and their fragile evolving systems.

Operationally, the integrated neonatal therapist has dedicated and consistent hours in the NICU. She must pass and maintain NICU specific competencies after extensive training and mentorship. The integrated therapist provides both habilitation and rehabilitation based on the specific needs of the infant.

Job Description

The description that follows is a list of possible responsibilities under the disciplines of occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech language pathology working as neonatal therapists. Responsibilities should be based upon discipline, professional scope of practice, experience, and the policies and procedures of each hospital/NICU/Rehab Dept in which the neonatal therapist is employed. This description was created as a general guide and will require individualization to accommodate the needs of individual departments.

Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

1) Evaluation and treatment of infants in the NICU with a variety of diagnoses which may affect the following systems: family and psychosocial, neurodevelopment, neuromotor, neurobehavioral, musculoskeletal, sensory, oral motor and feeding/swallowing.

2) In addition to problem-based referrals, complete developmental assessments and treatment plans on all infants <1500g (or <32 weeks GA) at birth. Proceed with individualized therapeutic intervention based on treatment plan.

Therapeutic interventions optimize development and facilitate the prevention of adverse sequelae due to prematurity and/or iatrogenic problems associated with prolonged hospitalization.

3) Complete feeding/dysphagia assessments and treatment as indicated

4) Splint as indicated

5) Educate all new nursing staff regarding therapy in the NICU, oral feeding, premature infant development and developmental care.

6) Educate new residents (teaching hospitals) re: developmentally supportive care, role of therapy in the NICU and oral feeding practice.

7) Educate neonatal fellows (teaching hospitals) regarding preterm infant development and feeding.

8) Oversee developmental care practice in the NICU; Lead or participate in Developmental Care Committee.

9) Create/administer/participate in yearly competencies for NICU therapy staff.

The above information was created by:

Chrysty Sturdivant OTR/L
Owner
Neonatal Therapy Solutions

Sue Ludwig OTR/L
President and Founder
National Association of Neonatal Therapists