Development of a Resource Manual for Returning Neonates to Community Hospitals

To facilitate the transfer of an infant from a tertiary NICU to a community Level II hospital for convalescing follow-up care, the tertiary staff must know the referral center's capabilities. This will help to establish a trusting relationship between hospitals, will enable the tertiary staff to send infants back to the referral center in a timely manner, will enable them to reassure the patient's parents concerning the transfer, and will facilitate communication between the hospitals and the patient's family. This article describes the development of a referring hospital resource manual designed to facilitate the transfer process.