THE ROLE OF THE PRIMARY-CARE PEDIATRICIAN IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HIGH-RISK NEWBORN-INFANTS

Quality care for high-risk newborns can best be provided by coordinati ng the efforts of the primary care pediatrician and the neonatologist. This ideally occurs in the newborn period, during the critical care a nd convalescing periods, and through the time of discharge. This state ment offers guidelines for the primary care pediatrician involved in p roviding neonatal care, and discusses his/her individual and shared re sponsibilities, roles, and relationships with the neonatologist and th e neonatal intensive care unit.