In Wisconsin, infant mortality remains a devastating public health crisis. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Black infants die at a rate more than twice that of white infants. But what we don’t often talk about are the babies who survive the NICU only to face new risks at home.
As a neonatal nurse practitioner for over a decade, I’ve discharged hundreds of families from Level II and IV NICUs. Each time, I’ve seen the fear in their eyes, parents leaving the hospital with medically fragile infants, often without the tools or support they need.
Our healthcare system is excellent at saving lives inside the hospital but often neglects the continuity of care after discharge. This is where NICU Transition Education becomes critical. Parents need guidance, virtual coaching, and connection, not just discharge papers. Without it, preventable readmissions and even deaths can occur.
The NEST Healthworks exists because the journey doesn’t end at discharge. It begins again at home, and families shouldn’t have to navigate it alone.
NEST Healworks 