The fact that Dr. Esmond Arrindell, Sr., neonatologist in the Baptist Women’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), was named the 2018 Physician Quality Champion comes as no surprise to his colleagues. Dr. Arrindell has long demonstrated an understanding and passion for quality care, says NICU nurse Brenda Maschmeyer.
“He has been instrumental in promoting quality improvement projects within the NICU. Under his watch, the NICU has worked to reduce infection, improve growth and nutrition, reduce necrotizing enterocolitis, improve micro preemie outcomes, and monitor antibiotic stewardship through both the Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care (TIPQC) and the Vermont Oxford Network (VON).”
Dr. Arrindell is the physician leader for the NICU Nutrition Quality team. He wrote and later revised the nutrition guidelines for the NICU in collaboration with the team and was instrumental in the utilization of liquid protein to improve the growth of NICU babies experiencing growth failure. Dr. Arrindell also takes part in the weekly nutrition rounds led by the NICU dietitian.
“He has assisted Dr. Padmaja Koneru, our micro preemie quality team physician lead, and myself with analyzing micro preemie data and preparing control charts to illustrate the results,” said Maschmeyer.
Dr. Arrindell and the team attended the annual VON Quality Congress, presented data and collaborated with other teams regarding antibiotic stewardship.
