Christopher D Smyser1, Emily W Y Tam2, Taeun Chang3, Janet S Soul4, Steven P Miller2, Hannah C Glass5. 1. Department of Neurology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Radiology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. Electronic address: smyserc@neuro.wustl.edu. 2. Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 3. Department of Neurology, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC. 4. Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. 5. Department of Neurology, Benioff Children's Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, California; Department of Pediatrics, Benioff Children's Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, California; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Benioff Children's Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, California.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neonatal neurocritical care is a growing and rapidly evolving medical subspecialty, with increasing numbers of dedicated multidisciplinary clinical, educational, and research programs established at academic institutions. The growth of these programs has provided trainees in neurology, neonatology, and pediatrics with increased exposure to the field, sparking interest in dedicated fellowship training in fetal-neonatal neurology. OBJECTIVES: To meet this rising demand, increasing numbers of training programs are being established to provide trainees with the requisite knowledge and skills to independently deliver care for infants with neurological injury or impairment from the fetal care center and neonatal intensive care unit to the outpatient clinic. This article provides an initial framework for standardization of training across these programs. RESULTS: Recommendations include goals and objectives for training in the field; core areas where clinical competency must be demonstrated; training activities and neuroimaging and neurodiagnostic modalities which require proficiency; and programmatic requirements necessary to support a comprehensive and well-rounded training program. CONCLUSIONS: With consistent implementation, the proposed model has the potential to establish recognized standards of professional excellence for training in the field, provide a pathway toward Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education certification for program graduates, and lead to continued improvements in medical and neurological care provided to patients in the neonatal intensive care unit.
BACKGROUND:Neonatal neurocritical care is a growing and rapidly evolving medical subspecialty, with increasing numbers of dedicated multidisciplinary clinical, educational, and research programs established at academic institutions. The growth of these programs has provided trainees in neurology, neonatology, and pediatrics with increased exposure to the field, sparking interest in dedicated fellowship training in fetal-neonatal neurology. OBJECTIVES: To meet this rising demand, increasing numbers of training programs are being established to provide trainees with the requisite knowledge and skills to independently deliver care for infants with neurological injury or impairment from the fetal care center and neonatal intensive care unit to the outpatient clinic. This article provides an initial framework for standardization of training across these programs. RESULTS: Recommendations include goals and objectives for training in the field; core areas where clinical competency must be demonstrated; training activities and neuroimaging and neurodiagnostic modalities which require proficiency; and programmatic requirements necessary to support a comprehensive and well-rounded training program. CONCLUSIONS: With consistent implementation, the proposed model has the potential to establish recognized standards of professional excellence for training in the field, provide a pathway toward Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education certification for program graduates, and lead to continued improvements in medical and neurological care provided to patients in the neonatal intensive care unit.