The Growth and Development Unit. A proposed approach for enhancing infant neurodevelopment and family-centered care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

There is growing evidence that the neurosensory and social environment of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has lasting effects on the neurodevelopment of the high-risk hospitalized infant. Thus, many NICUs are transitioning from traditional, medical healing approaches to enhanced family-centered developmental care approaches with the aim of improving infant outcomes and parental mental health. This commentary describes a transdisciplinary neurodevelopmental program based on key principles and recommendations from current and evolving evidence-based care practice guidelines. This clinical initiative, known as the Growth and Development Unit (GDU), was developed within the context of a 66-bed level III NICU. The process of program inception, key elements of program development, as well as program strengths and challenges are discussed.