According to the United States Government Accountability Office, 64 rural hospitals closed between 2013 and 2017 (1). Since 2010, the number totals 120 across the U.S. (2). These hospitals were mostly (1): Located in southern states Medicare-dependent For-profit institutions Where are hospital closures taking place? Rural hospitals are being shut down because they are found […]
Use of Ondansetron (Zofran) During Pregnancy
Ondansetron, or the brand name Zofran, is a powerful antiemetic agent, or drug that is used to treat nausea and vomiting. It has commonly been used to treat nausea and vomiting resulting from chemotherapy, surgery, anesthesia, and radiation therapy (1). It is also used to treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP, otherwise known as […]
Researchers Locate Specific Brain Cells Affected by Low Oxygen Levels at Birth
Premature babies (babies born before 37 weeks gestation) are at a higher risk of health complications than those born at term. Such complications include, but are not limited to, the following (1): More time spent in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Breathing problems, such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) Infections resulting from an immature […]
Subtle, Long-Term Effects of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy in Children Who Do Not Develop Cerebral Palsy
Recent research in the European Journal of Pediatrics suggests that infants who survive hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) are at a greater risk of developing certain neurological problems, even if they do not have the motor function impairments characteristic of cerebral palsy (CP). For many years, it has been widely believed that cerebral palsy is the primary […]
Why Are Parents Reluctant to Speak Up in the NICU?
Sometimes, parents of babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) have concerns about their babies’ treatment, but are hesitant to discuss these with doctors and other medical staff. Research published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing elucidates factors that influence parents’ willingness to speak up in the NICU. Audrey Lyndon and […]