Implementation of a Clinical Decision Rule for Treatment of Neonatal Jaundice in the Emergency Department

Jaundice is a condition caused by elevated levels of bilirubin in the body otherwise known as hyperbilirubinemia. It occurs when there is an increase in bilirubin production or normal production with problems eliminating it from the body. Serum levels of bilirubin in excess of 5 mg/dL signifies clinical jaundice, yet more than half of full term infants experience these levels within the first week of life. For those patients who have markedly elevated serum bilirubin levels, which phototherapy cannot sufficiently treat, the use of exchange transfusions is a viable option within the hospital setting. In comparison, bili-blankets have been used as a form of phototherapy for those patients being treated in a home-based setting to reduce the likelihood of hospital readmissions.