Tactile Care Approach Shortens Hospital Stay for Opioid-Dependent Newborns

A new approach to caring for newborns exposed to opioids during pregnancy, called Eat, Sleep, Console, gets them out of the hospital sooner and with less medication, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The approach encourages involvement from parents and prioritizes care that doesn't involve medication. Infants assessed with the Eat, Sleep, Console care method were discharged after eight days on average, compared with almost 15 days for the infants who were cared for by the standard approach. The approach could have a big impact on hospitals by freeing up bed space in the neonatal intensive care unit and boosting morale among nurses at risk of burnout.