Implementing a successful targeted neonatal echocardiography service and a training program: The ten stages of change

Abstract

Implementing any new service or program in the health care system is not always straightforward; a multi-stage implementation process is required most of the time. With the advancements in neonatal care and increased survival rates, there has been an increased need for ongoing assessment of hemodynamic stability. At the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), University of Ottawa, Canada, Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography service (TnEcho) was successfully established and has led to improvement in the hemodynamic evaluation and decision making in neonatal intensive care. In this article, we describe our experience establishing this program and the process of ensuring its success. This review article highlights the ten steps taken by multiple stakeholders to achieve this goal; this may help other centres implement a similar program.