Vermont Oxford Network and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses Collaborate on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Education

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Oct 25, 2016, 05:35 ET

BURLINGTON, Vt., Oct. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vermont Oxford Network (VON) and the National Association for Neonatal Nurses (NANN) are pleased to announce the highly acclaimed VON Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Universal Education and Training Program, available online to individuals, centers, states, and health systems, has now been endorsed by NANN as the new standard of care for opiate-exposed infants and families. This evidence-based program has already been completed by 52 centers who earned the VON Center of Excellence in NAS Education and Training designation by training 85 percent or more of their designated care team.

Every 25 minutes, an opioid-exposed infant is born at risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Many NICUs, step-down units, and newborn nurseries are struggling to care for this medically fragile and socially complex population. VON and NANN will be working together to promote rapid-cycle update of care to potentially better practices through wide-spread adoption by US health care staff of the VON educational program, accessed online via the VON Learning Management System. Learn more by visiting: https://public.vtoxford.org/quality-education/nas-universal-training-program/

NANN, the leading voice for neonatal nurses worldwide, is thrilled to partner with VON, a non-profit voluntary collaboration of healthcare professionals working together as an interdisciplinary community of practice to change the landscape of neonatal care. In addition to the online resources, NANN and VON will partner to deliver a Preconference event in Palm Springs, where world-class NAS experts and attendees will learn how together, NANN and VON can address the compelling clinical challenges of NAS and promote improvements in the quality, safety and value of care for this vulnerable population of infants and families. This important collaboration was announced at Vermont Oxford Network's Annual Quality Congress September 9-12, 2016 and will be discussed in detail at NANN's 32nd Annual Educational Conference, October 26-29, 2016 in Palm Springs, CA.

ABOUT VERMONT OXFORD NETWORK
Vermont Oxford Network (VON) is a nonprofit voluntary collaboration of health care professionals working together as an interdisciplinary community to change the landscape of neonatal care. Vermont Oxford Network Databases currently enroll approximately 90 percent of the very low birth weight infants born in the US each year. The VON community of practice includes 1065 centers around the globe that voluntarily submit data about the care and outcomes of high-risk newborn infants. Vermont Oxford Network serves as a neutral, independent party in analyzing and benchmarking data for our member centers to provide comprehensive, confidential reports that serve NICU teams dedicated to improving the quality and safety of medical care for newborn infants and their families. Vermont Oxford Network also sponsors large-scale multi-center quality improvement collaboratives focused on helping centers turn their data into actionable information to improve health care outcomes.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEONATAL NURSES
NANN is a community of registered nursing professionals at all stages of their careers who care for newborn infants born with a variety of health challenges, including prematurity, birth defects, infection, cardiac malformations, and surgical problems. For more than 30 years, NANN has supported its members and advanced the profession by providing opportunities for members to influence care for neonates and their families, collaborate with leaders and peers in their field, and gain knowledge to improve their daily practice. Today, more than ever before, high-risk neonates have a better chance of thriving because of the advances in medicine and the dedicated care they receive. Neonatal nurses are on the front line, providing around-the-clock care for these most vulnerable patients. The National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) stands behind these nurses, supporting and tending to their educational and professionals needs.

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SOURCE Vermont Oxford Network