Affiliations: [a] Research Center, Franciscan Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA | [b] Department of Pediatrics, Franciscan Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Helene M. Dumas, Research Center, Franciscan Hospital for Children, 30 Warren Street, Boston, MA 02135, USA. Tel.: +1 617 254 3800 x5474; Fax: +1 617 779 1361; E-mail:hdumas@fhfc.org
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To describe characteristics and care outcomes in a
pediatric post-acute rehabilitation hospital for infants with Neonatal
Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). METHODS: Demographic and clinical data were combined for 43 infants
accounting for 46 admissions over a two-year period with a diagnosis of NAS
and a goal of weaning from treatment medications. RESULTS: Mean age at admission for the total sample was 21 days.
One hundred percent of the infants were weaned from treatment medications at
discharge and all infants were discharged to a home setting. Mean length of
stay in post-acute care was 24 days (SD = 12.80; range = 4-70 days) while
the mean cost of admissions was $27,904. Ninety-one percent had a public
payer. Post-acute care clinical outcomes were excellent. CONCLUSION: Post-acute care for infants with NAS could be an
effective way to free NICU beds and reduce hospital costs for this
population of infants.
