Immediate management of the infant at birth is taught using materials produced by the American Academy of Pediatrics / American Heart Association (AAP/AHA) Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Program. There is no widely accepted national or international resource for the training of personnel in post resuscitation stabilization and/or transport of the newly born infant. The Acute Care of at-Risk Newborns (ACoRN) manual and education program was developed by a multidisciplinary group of clinical experts from across Canada in response to this gap.

ACoRN picks up where NRP leaves off, advising and teaching with use of an Algorithmic approach to manage/diagnose and cope with sick or at risk newly born infants. It incorporates case based learning and is designed to be used by any level of health care provider caring for these infants--from the smallest outpost nursing station to a tertiary referral centre. Each area (respiratory, cardiovascular, neurology, surgical conditions, fluid and glucose management, thermoregulation, infection) is supported by a sequence (algorithm) that is easy to follow and directs clinical care. The Table of Contents provides an overview of the program's content.

View the ACoRN Table of Contents

Further information can also be found at the ACoRN web page

The ACoRN program is seen as an educational and clinical tool to educate and guide staff in the identification of at-risk and unwell infants, and the care of a sick infant in the period between resuscitation of the newborn and the arrival of the transport team or transfer of the infant to a higher level unit. This standardized program (much like NRP) is not meant to replace communication and consultation with the tertiary hospital, but rather to provide staff at referral hospital with a concise, easy-to-remember tool to help organize the assessment and interventions necessary to provide safe care for the infant prior to transport.

The ACoRN program is the BCPHP's standardized provincial educational program.

The ACoRN workshop is an interactive session that utilizes case-based learning and practice stations to apply the concepts and skills presented in the textbook.

The workshops are designed to best meet the specific needs of the learners by the prior identification of the content and specific skills that will need to be emphasized and reviewed. Administration of a prior - learning assessment tool and identification of institutional objectives assist the ACoRN Education Team to tailor the design of each workshop.

As with neonatal resuscitation, stabilization is most effective when performed by a coordinated team. Teamwork and interdisciplinary approach are emphasized along with sharing of clinical scenarios.

Upon completion of the program, an ACoRN course completion card will be issued. The Candian Pediatric Society, College of Family Physicians, and Canadian College of Respiratory Therapists have awarded CME credits for the ACoRN Program.

For more information or to schedule an ACoRN workshop, please contact:

British Columbia Perinatal Health Program (604) 875 - 3737

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