Home phototherapy. An alternative to prolonged hospitalization of the full-term, well newborn.

Hyperbilirubinemia in the healthy, term neonate is the most common reason for prolonged hospitalization. Expense, separation from a nursing mother, imparting a sense of illness to the infant, and disrupting such processes as "bonding" are all drawbacks to in-hospital phototherapy. Home Phototherapy Associates in Colorado Springs, Colorado has treated 260 newborns from April 1982 to February 1985. The infants treated by home phototherapy averaged 0.81 days of hospital phototherapy before being discharged to home phototherapy for an average of 2.44 days. Average bilirubin on entry into home phototherapy was 14.19 mg/dl and 10.97 mg/dl when discontinued. The average age upon entering home phototherapy was 3.97 days. Home phototherapy was ordered at the discretion of the private physician. Parents were given verbal and written instructions on care of the jaundiced newborn, kept a record of their baby's progress and signed a consent form. There have been no complications in 260 newborns treated at home. There were 17 rehospitalizations. Home phototherapy is an effective and safe alternative to prolonged hospitalization for the healthy, full-term newborn with jaundice. Parental satisfaction has been nearly 100 percent. The average daily decrement in bilirubin is comparable with that reported by others for in-hospital phototherapy. The cost savings, uninterrupted "bonding" process, and the ability to keep mother and child united are some of the observable benefits.