Pediatrix: NICU improvements associated with mortality reduction
The implementation of multiple quality improvement practices in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was associated with a 19 percent relative reduction in mortality in extremely premature infants over a four-year period, according to a new retrospective study by Pediatrix Medical Group researchers.
The study, titled "Reduction in Mortality of Extremely Premature Infants in a Large Quality Network,” was conducted using data from Pediatrix's clinical data warehouse, including clinical documentation for more than 750,000 neonatal patients and more than 13.5 million neonatal patient days.
Dan L. Ellsbury, MD, and colleagues from the Sunrise, Fla.-based neonatal physician group practice sought to determine the impact of a multi-faceted quality improvement program on the mortality rate of extremely premature infants in a large and diverse national group of NICUs.
Pediatrix researchers associated the findings with a quality improvement program consisting of educational initiatives, proven best practices and automated documentation of patient care through an EHR system that was implemented across a broad neonatal intensive care network throughout the country.
By analyzing data of 13,532 extremely premature infants 24 weeks through 27 weeks gestational age, born between 2005 and 2009, the researchers determined that the rate of mortality changed from 18.1 percent in 2005 to 14.7 percent in 2009 post-program implementation.
The research was presented in May at the Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting in Denver.
The study, titled "Reduction in Mortality of Extremely Premature Infants in a Large Quality Network,” was conducted using data from Pediatrix's clinical data warehouse, including clinical documentation for more than 750,000 neonatal patients and more than 13.5 million neonatal patient days.
Dan L. Ellsbury, MD, and colleagues from the Sunrise, Fla.-based neonatal physician group practice sought to determine the impact of a multi-faceted quality improvement program on the mortality rate of extremely premature infants in a large and diverse national group of NICUs.
Pediatrix researchers associated the findings with a quality improvement program consisting of educational initiatives, proven best practices and automated documentation of patient care through an EHR system that was implemented across a broad neonatal intensive care network throughout the country.
By analyzing data of 13,532 extremely premature infants 24 weeks through 27 weeks gestational age, born between 2005 and 2009, the researchers determined that the rate of mortality changed from 18.1 percent in 2005 to 14.7 percent in 2009 post-program implementation.
The research was presented in May at the Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting in Denver.