Multi-Site NICU Read-a-thon

Septemeber 2020 Read-a-thon Highlights:
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Participating NICUs:

39

NICUs participated in the September 2020 read-a-thon

6,140

Reading sessions at each participating NICU

97%

Of NICUs said this read-a-thon encouraged them to start or expand a reading program in their NICU

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  • Advocate Children's Hospital Oak Lawn

  • Akron Children's Special Care Nursery at St. Joseph's

  • Baylor Scott and White Medical Center McKinney

  • Baylor University Medical Center Dallas

  • Beacon Children's Hospital

  • Carle Foundation Hospital

  • Cedars-Sinai

  • Dublin Methodist Hospital Neonatal Special Care Unit; Nationwide Childrens'

  • Emory Decatur Hospital

  • HCA Clear Lake

  • Humber River Hospital

  • Inova Loudoun

  • Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children

  • Medical Center of Aurora NICU

  • Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center

  • Mercy Health Saint Mary's

  • Mercy Kids NICU - St. Louis

  • Mott's Children's Hospital

  • OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois (University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria)

  • Monmouth Medical Center

  • Presbyterian Hospital

  • Providence St. Vincent Medical Center

  • Rady Children Hopstial of San Diego

  • Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital

  • Randall Children's Hospital

  • Rochester General Hospital

  • Rose Medical Center

  • Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend

  • Saint Lukes Plaza

  • Salem Hospital NICU

  • Sanford USD Medical Center

  • Santa Clara County Valley Medical Center

  • St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital NICU

  • St. Mary's Hospital

  • St. Vincent Healthcare, SCL Health

  • Swedish American Hospital NICU

  • UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital

  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

  • University of Vermont Medical Center

Winning Hospitals (based on reading rate):

First: Emory Decatur Hospital 

Second: University of Vermont Medical Center

Third: Rochester General Hospital

Our NICU Read-a-thon:

NICU read-a-thons are friendly reading competitions between both families and NICUs. Our read-a-thon works to encourage family reading, support infants and families, and build NICU morale especially during the isolating time of COVID-19.

Participating hospitals receive BWB's read-a-thon process guide with step-by-step guidelines for organizing and implementing a read-a-thon. Our guide includes materials and resources such as:

  • Family information on how and why to read in the NICU

  • Healthcare Provider information on NICU reading rationale

  • Suggestions for engaging families and healthcare providers in read-a-thon

  • Templated materials to promote read-a-thon

  • Templated reading tracking sheets

  • ​Templated data collection sheets

  • Books lists in multiple languages, including easy access to free, online books

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Learn more about how reading aloud with babies beginning in the NICU supports infant brain development, promotes family bonding, and reduces stress here.  

 
 

Read-a-thon Feedback:

“Families rallied around the chance to start reading with their babies as a way to bond.”

-  NICU Nurse

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"I loved it! And the babies seemed to enjoy it, too. I noticed they became calm, attentive, and had more regular heart rates and breathing rates when being read to."

- NICU Speech Therapist

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"I'm so proud of our entire NICU team for participating in this amazing opportunity to help bring awareness to a crucial and often under recognized topic."

- NICU Medical Director

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“This experience reminds me why I love my job."

- Chief Nursing Officer

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To learn more about BWB and NICU reading, see our poster on our NICU reading program from the Vermont Oxford Network Annual Quality Congress

©2021 by Babies With Books