- Email: [email protected]
Outstanding
L E T T E R S
F011ow-upHome Care I am writing in response to the article
“Postpartum Care Center: Follow-up Care in a Hospital-based Clinic” (‘January 1995 JOGNN). It is refreshing to be given information about a community program that provides support for new families after early discharge. As Keppler stated in her article, there is a need for follow-up before the established postpartum visit. I believe, however, it is difficult for new mothers to be seen outside the home. Nuclear and single-parent families have limited social support to assist them with child care and transportation. These problems could be avoided with a follow-up visit in the home. Another concern is assessment of the postpartum family. By observing the family in its home, the nurse can implement a more effective plan of care. Keppler described home visits and public health referrals as provided primarily to families at high risk. However, in some cases, it may
be riskier for the patient to travel to the appointment than to be seen at home. With the projected shift to community health care and increased need for follow-up,managed care organizations may fund home visits. I believe such changes will warrant making home visits available to all patients, regardless of funding or risk status. My final comment applies to staffing. A plan that uses nurses from the family-centered care unit would benefit home care in several ways. First, it would provide continuity of care for the new family. Nurses may recognize the needs of the postpartum family better after caring for them as inpatients. Second, costs could be contained if these nurses functioned in both hospital and community settings. Finally, nurses would be more secure in their posi-
tions despite current health care trends. In conclusion, a solution to current early discharge protocols must address the patient and the health care professional to be successful. Terri L. Liberto, RN,BSN Instructor Citizens General Hospital School of Nursing New Kensington, PA
Outstanding Thank you for the outstanding July/ August issue. The series on infections is an excellent resource for those of us who teach and practice maternity nursing. I also compliment you on the advertisement by Mead Johnson. It is one of the few advertisements I have seen that says “nurse (not physician) recommended. . . I thank you for your editorial on how manuscripts are reviewed. (I appreciated the title, too. Including the word “travel” in a summer-issue editorial seemed timely.) The editorial was, as usual, well written and informative. I believe JOGNN articles are consistently well written, accurate, and informative. .I’
The JOG” editor welcomes readers’ comments. Address letters to the editor, JOGNN, 700 14th St., N W , Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005-2019. All letters should be typed double-space and signed by the author. Letters will be published at the editor’sdiscretion, and JOG” reserves the right to edit all letters.
Kay Wiley, RNC, EdD Skokie, IL
JOGNNReview Panel: 1995 Cydney I. Afriat, CNM, MSN, RDMS Erin Anderson, RN, MSN Lauren Arnold, RN, PhD Mary Lee Barron, RN-CS, MSN, FNP Marie Biancuzzo, RN, MS Linda Boisvert, MScN Mary C. Brucker, CNM, DNSc Rebekah Carey, RNC, MSN Judith A. Carveth, RN, CNM, PhD BethA. Collins, RNC, PhD Elizabeth G. Damato, RNC, MSN Kathryn V. Deitch, RNC, PhD Pamela Dill, RNC, MSN Peggy Gordin, RNC, MS Jeanne T. Grace, RNC, PhD Maureen Griese, RNC, BSN Maureen Heaman, RN, MN Mary Henrikson, RNC, MN, ARNP
October 1995
Pamela Hill, RN, PhD Diane Holditch-Davis, RN, PhD M. Katherine Hutchinson, RNC, PhD Pamela L. Jordan, RN, PhD Margaret H. Kearney, RNC, PhD Carole Kenner, RNC, DNS Virginia Kinnick, RN, CNM, EdD Cheryl Kish, RN, MSN, EdD Nancy Lowe, CNM, PhD Nancy MacMullen, RNC, PhD Laura Mahlmeister, RN, PhD Louise Martell, RN, PhD Linnea J. Mead, RN, MSN, PNP Barbara Medoff-Cooper, PhD, FAAN Mary Ann Miller, RN, PhD Anne A. Moore, RNC, MSN Karen Moore, RNC, MSN, IBCLC Michelle Murray, RNC, PhD
Rita H. Pickler, RN, PhD Margaret Primeau, RN, MBA, MS, CANP Linda Pugh, RNC, PhD Deborah A. Raines, RNC, PhD Diana Reiser, RN, MAEd, MN Jacque R. Repke, RNC, MS Jeanne Sala, RNC, MSN, CNM Maureen Shogan, RNC, MN Sharleen H. Simpson, MSN, PhD, ARNP Jan Weingrad Smith, CNM, MS, MPH Rosemary Theroux, RNC, MS Susan E. Trippet, RN, DSN Nan H. Troiano, RN, MSN Cheryl Wallerstedt, RNC, MS, FACCE Lenore R.Williams, RN, MSN Jeanne M. Wilton, RN, MS, IBCLC
J O C N N
701
F011ow-upHome Care I am writing in response to the article
“Postpartum Care Center: Follow-up Care in a Hospital-based Clinic” (‘January 1995 JOGNN). It is refreshing to be given information about a community program that provides support for new families after early discharge. As Keppler stated in her article, there is a need for follow-up before the established postpartum visit. I believe, however, it is difficult for new mothers to be seen outside the home. Nuclear and single-parent families have limited social support to assist them with child care and transportation. These problems could be avoided with a follow-up visit in the home. Another concern is assessment of the postpartum family. By observing the family in its home, the nurse can implement a more effective plan of care. Keppler described home visits and public health referrals as provided primarily to families at high risk. However, in some cases, it may
be riskier for the patient to travel to the appointment than to be seen at home. With the projected shift to community health care and increased need for follow-up,managed care organizations may fund home visits. I believe such changes will warrant making home visits available to all patients, regardless of funding or risk status. My final comment applies to staffing. A plan that uses nurses from the family-centered care unit would benefit home care in several ways. First, it would provide continuity of care for the new family. Nurses may recognize the needs of the postpartum family better after caring for them as inpatients. Second, costs could be contained if these nurses functioned in both hospital and community settings. Finally, nurses would be more secure in their posi-
tions despite current health care trends. In conclusion, a solution to current early discharge protocols must address the patient and the health care professional to be successful. Terri L. Liberto, RN,BSN Instructor Citizens General Hospital School of Nursing New Kensington, PA
Outstanding Thank you for the outstanding July/ August issue. The series on infections is an excellent resource for those of us who teach and practice maternity nursing. I also compliment you on the advertisement by Mead Johnson. It is one of the few advertisements I have seen that says “nurse (not physician) recommended. . . I thank you for your editorial on how manuscripts are reviewed. (I appreciated the title, too. Including the word “travel” in a summer-issue editorial seemed timely.) The editorial was, as usual, well written and informative. I believe JOGNN articles are consistently well written, accurate, and informative. .I’
The JOG” editor welcomes readers’ comments. Address letters to the editor, JOGNN, 700 14th St., N W , Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005-2019. All letters should be typed double-space and signed by the author. Letters will be published at the editor’sdiscretion, and JOG” reserves the right to edit all letters.
Kay Wiley, RNC, EdD Skokie, IL
JOGNNReview Panel: 1995 Cydney I. Afriat, CNM, MSN, RDMS Erin Anderson, RN, MSN Lauren Arnold, RN, PhD Mary Lee Barron, RN-CS, MSN, FNP Marie Biancuzzo, RN, MS Linda Boisvert, MScN Mary C. Brucker, CNM, DNSc Rebekah Carey, RNC, MSN Judith A. Carveth, RN, CNM, PhD BethA. Collins, RNC, PhD Elizabeth G. Damato, RNC, MSN Kathryn V. Deitch, RNC, PhD Pamela Dill, RNC, MSN Peggy Gordin, RNC, MS Jeanne T. Grace, RNC, PhD Maureen Griese, RNC, BSN Maureen Heaman, RN, MN Mary Henrikson, RNC, MN, ARNP
October 1995
Pamela Hill, RN, PhD Diane Holditch-Davis, RN, PhD M. Katherine Hutchinson, RNC, PhD Pamela L. Jordan, RN, PhD Margaret H. Kearney, RNC, PhD Carole Kenner, RNC, DNS Virginia Kinnick, RN, CNM, EdD Cheryl Kish, RN, MSN, EdD Nancy Lowe, CNM, PhD Nancy MacMullen, RNC, PhD Laura Mahlmeister, RN, PhD Louise Martell, RN, PhD Linnea J. Mead, RN, MSN, PNP Barbara Medoff-Cooper, PhD, FAAN Mary Ann Miller, RN, PhD Anne A. Moore, RNC, MSN Karen Moore, RNC, MSN, IBCLC Michelle Murray, RNC, PhD
Rita H. Pickler, RN, PhD Margaret Primeau, RN, MBA, MS, CANP Linda Pugh, RNC, PhD Deborah A. Raines, RNC, PhD Diana Reiser, RN, MAEd, MN Jacque R. Repke, RNC, MS Jeanne Sala, RNC, MSN, CNM Maureen Shogan, RNC, MN Sharleen H. Simpson, MSN, PhD, ARNP Jan Weingrad Smith, CNM, MS, MPH Rosemary Theroux, RNC, MS Susan E. Trippet, RN, DSN Nan H. Troiano, RN, MSN Cheryl Wallerstedt, RNC, MS, FACCE Lenore R.Williams, RN, MSN Jeanne M. Wilton, RN, MS, IBCLC
J O C N N
701