Prophylactic postnatal hydrocortisone is a relatively new protocol for most units. This will need recruitment and commitment of your unit’s Neonatal Consultant Body prior to approaching the process and training aspects of implementation so spend your time wisely.
Resources are available below to introduce the team to the evidence base but the in-depth papers can be found in our evidence summary by the PREMILOC team. Perhaps postnatal hydrocortisone can be used as part of a preterm admission bundle checklist?
We encourage you to look across the three “capsules” of Process, Training and Education and Communications and Engagement when planning and implementing any changes, we know from experience that action needs to be taken across all three capsules to see a progress. These areas will be covered in the unit-level training.
Pay attention to how you will embed and sustain the improvements you have made and you can use the embedding and sustaining change tool (coming soon) to shape your thinking in doing so.
Please tell us a bit about yourself to download our PERIPrem resources
Watch our Learn and Share on Hydrocortisone
PERIPrem Prophylactic Hydrocortisone Webinar.mp4 from HealthInnoWest on Vimeo.
Further Resources
- Shaffer, Michele L., et al. “Effect of Prophylaxis for Early Adrenal Insufficiency Using Low-Dose Hydrocortisone in Very Preterm Infants: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.” (2019).
