The Impact of “Mom/Dad of the Day” Cards, Newborn Heart Auscultation, and Father Skin

Texas Tech Pediatrics at Northwest Texas Hospital System in Amarillo, Texas, currently practices giving “Mom/Dad of the Day” cards to all new parents, offering the opportunity for fathers to auscultate the newborn heart sound, and encouraging maternal and paternal skin-to-skin contact. New parents were asked to fill out 2 anonymous surveys regarding these practices. Survey results showed statistically significant positive responses by the parents for subjective improvement in fetal sleep and feeding as well as parental confidence and preparedness for taking care of their newborn. Additionally, these practices are desired by parents, with 96% fathers recommending that the hospital routinely offering opportunities for heart auscultation and 94% parents recommending “Mom/Dad of the Day” cards for all future parents in the hospital. Small, nonmedical initiatives such as these are well received and can be feasibly adopted in more hospitals to improve patient quality of care