Multi-Site NICU Read-a-thon
Septemeber 2020 Read-a-thon Highlights:
Participating NICUs:

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Advocate Children's Hospital Oak Lawn
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Akron Children's Special Care Nursery at St. Joseph's
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Baylor Scott and White Medical Center McKinney
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Baylor University Medical Center Dallas
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Beacon Children's Hospital
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Carle Foundation Hospital
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Cedars-Sinai
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Dublin Methodist Hospital Neonatal Special Care Unit; Nationwide Childrens'
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Emory Decatur Hospital
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HCA Clear Lake
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Humber River Hospital
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Inova Loudoun
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Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children
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Medical Center of Aurora NICU
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Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center
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Mercy Health Saint Mary's
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Mercy Kids NICU - St. Louis
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Mott's Children's Hospital
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OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois (University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria)
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Monmouth Medical Center
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Presbyterian Hospital
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Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
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Rady Children Hopstial of San Diego
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Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital
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Randall Children's Hospital
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Rochester General Hospital
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Rose Medical Center
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Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend
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Saint Lukes Plaza
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Salem Hospital NICU
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Sanford USD Medical Center
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Santa Clara County Valley Medical Center
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St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital NICU
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St. Mary's Hospital
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St. Vincent Healthcare, SCL Health
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Swedish American Hospital NICU
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UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital
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University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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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:
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Family information on how and why to read in the NICU
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Healthcare Provider information on NICU reading rationale
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Suggestions for engaging families and healthcare providers in read-a-thon
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Templated materials to promote read-a-thon
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Templated reading tracking sheets
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Templated data collection sheets
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Books lists in multiple languages, including easy access to free, online books
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
"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
"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
“This experience reminds me why I love my job."
- Chief Nursing Officer
To learn more about BWB and NICU reading, see our poster on our NICU reading program from the Vermont Oxford Network Annual Quality Congress
