Bridging NICU to Home: Best Practices with Tiffany Elliott

Guest: Tiffany Elliott, MS CCC-SLP, CNT, IBCLC

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In this special birthday episode of First Byte, Michelle Dawson, a devoted therapist and mother, explores the intricate journey from NICU to home with expert Tiffany Elliott. They discuss practical strategies for caregivers in maintaining emotional wellbeing, the importance of neuroprotective care, and the Hospital to Home Systems Change project aimed at improving continuity of care for infants and their families. Elliott shares her insights from working in various NICUs, setting up essential support systems, and the critical role that emotional support plays in successful infant feeding. This episode is packed with valuable information for anyone interested in pediatric feeding, NICU professionals, and caregivers navigating early intervention services.

Episode Timeline:

00:00 Welcome to First Bite

00:29 A Day in the Life of a Pediatric Feeding Specialist

01:31 University of Tennessee Lecture Experience

04:11 Encouragement for Clinical Supervisors

05:59 Introducing Tiffany Elliott

06:41 Tiffany's Journey and NICU Experience

19:09 Hospital to Home Systems Change

23:39 Challenges in Early Intervention

26:53 Barriers and Solutions in Washington State

36:21 Personal and Professional Reflections

40:12 Navigating Academia and Authenticity

41:39 Balancing Productivity and Care in the NICU

44:21 Challenges in Early Intervention Systems

45:29 Continuity of Care and Billing Codes

49:21 Training and Support for Caregivers

51:59 Emotional Wellbeing and Feeding

01:00:16 Practical Strategies for Caregiver Support

01:11:38 Final Thoughts and Resources

About the Guest(s): Tiffany Elliott, MS CCC-SLP, CNT, IBCLC, is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders with a strong focus on preterm and medically complex infants and strengthening the caregiver-infant dyad. She is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and holds certifications in neonatal therapy (CNT) as well as neonatal touch and massage (NTMTC). She is currently a LEND trainee at the University of Washington. Tiffany is passionate about improving systems of care. She is a hospital-to-home systems change specialist with Northwest Center, where she partners with professionals across Washington state to enhance the hospital-to-home transition for infants and build community therapists' capacity. She also works on the infant feeding team at Seattle Children’s Hospital, providing direct care for infants and their families. Before these positions, she co-founded the UW Medical Center’s NICU SLP program and worked at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/n7hXTJG_FJM

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