Eat, Sleep, Console

Inspira Marks OneYear Anniversary of Utilizing Method

In February, Inspira marked the one-year anniversary of utilizing the Eat Sleep Console (ESC) method. The opioid epidemic in the United States has resulted in an increased number of drug-exposed infants who are at risk for developing neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Historically, these infants have been treated with the introduction and slow weaning of pharmaceuticals. ESC focuses on the comfort and care of these infants by maximizing nonpharmacologic methods, increasing family involvement in the treatment of their infant, or "as needed" use of morphine.

In the last year, 41 babies have been treated with this method at Inspira; as a result, 39 of those babies have been able to completely avoid pharmaceutical treatment. This method resulted in the prevention of more than 350 days of NICU stay for these babies.

“A hospital isn’t the best place for a baby’s development,” said Ashish Gupta, M.D., chief of Neonatology from Nemours Children's Health at Inspira Medical Centers Vineland and Mullica Hill. “Our philosophy centers around the family’s participation in their newborn’s care. The ESC method is beneficial because the infants can stay with their families and go home sooner with much less exposure to medication. I’m proud to say none of the children we’ve treated with the ESC method have required a readmission within 30 days of discharge.”

Continued from page 2 new state-of-the-art facility that will house the 24,900 square-foot 19-bed satellite emergency department and 21,500-square-foot 20-bed inpatient behavioral health center; and a new EMS station.