WIP 75 - Telehealth-Enhanced Home Enteral Nutrition (TeleHEN) Program for NICU Patients

Publication Number: WIP 75.7486

Mark R. Kijek, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR, United States; Beverly Spray, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR, United States; Robert E. Lyle, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States; Sherry E. Courtney, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, Little Rock, AR, United States; Ankita Shukla, University of Arkansas for Medical sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States

Background: The transition to full oral feedings significantly impacts hospital length of stay (LOS) in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Traditionally, infants develop full oral feeding skills or undergo a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) insertion to be discharged. Home nasogastric tube (NG tube) feeding programs have shown reduced LOS and minimized healthcare utilization post-discharge, with fewer complications and lower readmission rates than G-tube counterparts. The integration of telehealth into home enteral feeding protocols remains unexplored within the published literature, presenting a novel opportunity to enhance patient care and monitoring after NICU discharge.

Objective: This study aims to reduce the NICU LOS by 20% for patients transitioning to home NG tube feeding compared to G-tube recipients, without increasing healthcare utilization or adverse outcomes.

Design/Methods: Design and Methods: This prospective study will recruit 38 NG tube patients, comparing them against retrospective G-tube data. The study, approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), uses existing records for G-tube controls and enters prospective NG data into the RedCap database. Completion is expected by the end of 2024, with data analysis in early 2025 and results anticipated by April 1, 2025.

Expected Outcomes: The TeleHEN program is expected to significantly reduce LOS for NG tube patients while maintaining or improving healthcare utilization and adverse event outcomes. The study will also assess the feasibility and efficacy of telehealth in managing home enteral nutrition, potentially redefining post-NICU care standards.

Clinical Significance: Integrating telehealth with traditional home feeding strategies, the TeleHEN program aims to shorten NICU stays and enhance outpatient care quality. This approach could serve as a scalable model for other institutions, improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare burdens. Successful implementation could broaden the acceptance of remote healthcare solutions in pediatric settings, especially for vulnerable NICU graduates.