Implementation of a Novel Tool to Collect Milk Feeding Data on Infants in Primary Care Clinics.

We aimed to capture milk feeding type in real time in a racially and socioeconomically diverse population. An electronic tool to assess milk feeding type at every medical visit for children aged 0 to 2 years was designed and incorporated into nursing workflows. The Milk Box tool was successfully added to the electronic clinical workspace of a large health system. There were eight clinics, with diverse characteristics, which incorporated the use of the Milk Box tool over 12 months. Time to 50% uptake of Milk Box varied from 3 to 5 months. Time to >80% uptake varied from 6 to 8 months. Our results show that Milk Box can be quickly incorporated into a clinical workflow when the team is given appropriate training and support. The tool also allows a primary care practice to study local breast milk consumption trends and to provide both individualized and system-level lactation support.

Influence of Early Lactation Assistance on Inpatient Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates.

BACKGROUND: Human milk feeding reduces the incidence and costs of several maternal and childhood illnesses. Initiation and success of human milk feeding are influenced by race, socioeconomic status, and family support. The influence of early in-hospital lactation assistance in breastfeeding success has been not well described. RESEARCH AIMS: We aimed to determine how suspected known factors influencing breastfeeding success influence in-hospital human milk feeding rates. Second, we aimed to examine how timing of lactation assistance is related to success of human milk feeding during the newborn hospitalization for healthy infants. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of term infants born between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2016 at a large tertiary academic hospital. We considered "success" to be 100% human milk feeding during the birth hospitalization, and compared differences in success by demographics, payor, race, and initial feeding preference. Influences of lactation assistance on success were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Mean success with exclusive human milk feeding among 7,370 infants was 48.9%, (n = 3,601). Successful participants were more likely to be 39-40 weeks' gestation (64.9%, n = 2,340), non-Hispanic/non-Latino (80.0%, n = 2,882), and using private insurance (69.2%, n = 2,491). Participants who had early feeding assisted by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) before being fed any formula were more likely to be successful than participants who had a feeding assisted by a non-IBCLC nurse (80% vs. 40% respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Success for exclusive human milk feeding during newborn hospitalization is strongly associated with several factors. Early intervention with IBCLCs can greatly improve breastfeeding success.

Toto, I've a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore: Navigating the Mid-career Transition to Academic Medicine.

When physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants transition from a community setting to a university-based academic environment during mid-career, it can be challenging. Strategic planning is needed to ensure success. Institutions can assist experienced providers making such a transition, and there are steps the provider can take to self-advocate. As a group of four medical professionals who began their careers in patient care community practices for up to 18 years before transitioning to an academic medical center, we have had to navigate an unfamiliar landscape. We collectively offer our tips for a successful mid-career transition to academic medicine.

Recent Trends in Infant Car Seat Tolerance Screening Failure Within a Large Health Care System, 2014-2018.

OBJECTIVES: To describe temporal trends in car seat tolerance screening (CSTS) failure within a large hospital system (2014-2018). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic medical record data for infants who underwent a CSTS. Our primary outcome measure was the CSTS failure rate. Covariates included year, CSTS location (well nursery or NICU), gestational age (GA), race, sex, birth weight, CSTS date, and age at CSTS. Associations of covariates with CSTS failure were examined by using χ2 tests, t tests, analysis of variance, and Wilcoxon rank tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds of CSTS failure. RESULTS: Of 4849 infants tested, the failure rate was 8.1% (n = 394). Most CSTS occurred in the well nursery (79.5%) and involved late preterm (55.2%) or term infants (23.7%). In bivariate analyses, year, unit location, higher birth weight, younger chronological age at testing, and higher GA were positively associated with CSTS failure (P < .05). After stratification by CSTS location, the CSTS failure rate rose in the well nursery but remained stable in the NICU, and use of screening rose among term infants. In the adjusted model, year, GA, and corrected gestational age at CSTS were associated with failure. Each subsequent year was associated with a 19% increase in odds of CSTS failure (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: We found a higher rate of CSTS failure in the well nursery compared with the NICU, and the difference in failure rates increased over time. Improved understanding of infants at the highest risk of CSTS failure could impact routine screening guidelines.