Starting early summer 2012, parents of premature babies will be getting enhanced supervision, guidance and support at Bern University Hospital.Specially developed and road-tested in the USA, the COPE (Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment) programme helps parents make the transition back home. The programme takes them through a four-phase intervention plan, during which they learn how to maintain close contact with their child despite the high-tech paraphernalia of monitors, tubes and so forth.

Stress reduction thanks to training
Scientific studies have shown that parents benefiting from COPE are less stressed. They feel more confident and are less likely to feel depressed through feelings of inadequacy. Because the programme kicks in soon after the birth of the infant, it nurtures the parent-child relationship from the very start.

Inselspital is the first European institution to acquire a licence for the COPE programme.