Why Little Heroes League
Finding out that your baby has medical needs is overwhelming. Dealing with many different medical providers can be confusing. Rady Children’s is partnering with Little Heroes League to provide care coordination services to a small group of babies and their families in the NICU. Once enrolled in the program, families will receive care coordination services in the NICU for as long as they need them – even after they go home.
A grateful family, whose child was cared for in a NICU, started the Little Heroes League Foundation to help improve the coordination of care for children in the NICU and their families.
Here for You and Your Little Hero: What to Expect
A dedicated inpatient care coordinator will work directly with your family throughout your stay at Rady Children’s NICU. Your care coordinator will do an intake assessment to get to know you and your infant. This assessment will help to identify ways we can help you navigate the health care system during your stay.
Your care coordinator will continue to meet with you regularly to provide your family with the following support:
- Acting as a central point of contact to help coordinate care for your child.
- Coordinating Family Care Conferences with the medical team to help you better understand the care your child is receiving.
- Providing education and guidance about navigating your child’s care while in the hospital.
- Setting weekly learning goals to help you stay on track with learning your child’s care.
- Monitoring the discharge planning process and remove barriers which may delay your child’s discharge.
Transition to Home
Approximately one month before discharge, you will be introduced to the outpatient nurse and social worker who will continue providing care coordination services to your family.
Some examples of what your coordinator may provide you with include:
- Completing a home visit.
- Helping you find a pediatrician who will manage your child’s needs.
- Attending pediatrician or subspecialty appointments.
- Maintaining frequent contact with you to monitor your child’s progress.
- Providing help with:
- Appointments
- Arranging transportation
- Connecting you with community resources
- Providing education
- Continuing to follow your child for 6-18 months after discharge from Rady Children’s.
Patient Story: A Beacon of Hope for Premature Infants
Amir was born at just over 24 weeks, marking the beginning of a long and challenging journey for both him and his family. Shortly after birth, he developed hydrocephalus, a condition where fluid builds up in the brain, leading to potentially severe complications.
Read below how Little Heroes League was able to help.
Helping Because We Care
We look forward to working alongside you and your family as we get your infant ready for discharge. As a caregiver for your infant, you are a vital part of our team, and we are here to support you during your infant’s stay in the Rady Children’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Rady Children’s NICU team and Little Heroes League care coordinators are committed to supporting you through each step of your infant’s journey. Our goal is for every Little Hero to reach their full potential and for families to feel confident in all aspects of their infant’s care as you prepare to go home.