Infant feeding support available through virtual care

Nursing mother on mobile

Patients and families get support from comfort of their home

 

Arriving home after delivering your new bundle of joy can be challenging. There is so much to learn and so much to do during the first few weeks after birth that a simple task like going out to an appointment can cause undue stress. 

“We know that the postpartum period can be very overwhelming, as families adjust to all of the changes that come with welcoming a new baby” says Kayla Nault, Registered Practical Nurse in the Mother & Baby Follow-Up Clinic at North York General Hospital (NYGH). “Being able to offer our support through virtual care enables us to better meet the needs of our patients and families.” 

NYGH has partnered with the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) to expand its ability to offer video consults through the hospital's Mother and Baby Follow-Up Clinic. The clinic now provides virtual prenatal and postnatal infant feeding consults. 

“Through OTN, our patients and families can now connect with our lactation consultant from the comfort of their own home using their laptop computer, tablet or mobile device,” says Katie Anawati, Clinical Team Manager in the Maternal, Newborn and Paediatric Care Program. “Our appointment booking process has also been simplified – patients can now visit our website and fill out an online request form.”

“The feedback that we have received from patients and families has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Katie. “Patients frequently cite the convenience of our virtual appointments, noting that they no longer have to arrange for transportation to the hospital, pay for parking or secure child care for older siblings in order to get the support that they need. Connecting with our team virtually allows our patients and families to access expert infant feeding advice without the headaches and hassles that usually come with attending an in-person appointment.”

“The video consultation was very convenient in that we didn't have to leave our home or wait in line. The consultant was very knowledgeable and helpful in answering all my questions.” – NYGH patient

Virtual care supports the needs of our growing community to further improve access to care for patients and families living outside the hospital's immediate geographical area. 

All virtual appointments are conducted via OTN's secure network. OTN ensures the privacy and confidentiality of all telemedicine visits. Get more information about how you can schedule your consultation..

This article was first published in the June 2019 issue of The Pulse.

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