Guidelines for Safety and Quality Assurance When Preparing Infant Feedings

In an era of sophisticated technology in health care, safe feeding of infants may be presumed as a relatively mundane function of infant care. Periodically, events remind us of the importance of fundamental, standardized clinical practices that may be taken for granted within the complex institution that a hospital represents. As the importance of nutrition support for our most fragile hospitalized patients is increasingly appreciated, attention to details will undoubtedly enhance the efforts to improve clinical outcomes. Regardless of an institution's current level of quality performance in this area, this article will provide useful guidance for developing and refining standards of procedure related to the training of individuals who prepare infant feedings.