Coordinated neonatal transport: advancing newborn care in resource-limited settings

Improved outcomes of transported neonates in Beijing: the impact of strategic changes in perinatal and regional neonatal transport network services

BACKGROUND

Infants born outside perinatal centers may have compromised outcomes due to the transfer speed and efficiency to an appropriate tertiary center. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of regional coordinated changes in perinatal supports and retrieval services on the outcome of transported neonates in Beijing, China.

METHODS

Information about transported newborns between phase 1 (July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2006) and phase 2 (July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2009) was collected. The strategic changes during phase 2 included standardized neonatal transport procedures, skilled attendants, a perinatal consulting service, and preferential admission of transported neonates to the intensive care unit of the tertiary care center. Data from phase 2 (after-strategic changes) were compared with those of phase 1 (the period of pre-strategic changes) after a 12-month washout period, especially regarding the reduction in mortality and selected morbidity.

RESULTS

There was a large increase in the number of transported infants in phase 2 compared with phase 1 (2797 vs. 567 patients). The average monthly rate of increase of transported infants was 383.3% (from 24 infants per month to 116 infants per month). The mortality rate of transported neonates reduced significantly from phase 1 to phase 2 (5.11% vs. 2.82%; P=0.005), particularly for preterm infants (8.47% vs. 4.34%; P=0.006). In addition, transported neonates during phase 2 had significantly decreased morbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

Regional coordinated strategies optimizing the perinatal services and transport of outborn sick and preterm infants to tertiary care centers improved survival outcomes considerably. These findings have vital implications for health outcomes and resource planning.

Improving outcomes of transported newborns in Panama: impact of a nationwide neonatal provider education program

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether national distribution of a neonatal provider education program (the S.T.A.B.L.E. Program) positively impacts the health of ill newborns that require transport in Panama.

STUDY DESIGN

The investigation used a prospective, pre- and postintervention study design with a double pretest. The 10 birthing centers in Panama that routinely transport the greatest number of newborns received the education program intervention. Primary outcomes were body temperature and serum glucose level on arrival at the referral facility. Length of stay and mortality were evaluated as secondary outcomes. Variation in outcome indicators was compared for 7 months before and after the intervention. Data from all live newborns transported from outlying birthing center study sites during the study dates were included in the investigation.

RESULT

A total of 136 and 146 newborns were transported during the observation and postintervention periods, respectively. Significantly more patients in the postintervention group had temperatures within the normal range (56% in postintervention group vs 34% in observation group; P<0.01). No statistical difference was observed in serum glucose levels, length of stay or mortality.

CONCLUSION

Distribution of a neonatal provider educational program was associated with improved thermal management of transported newborns in Panama. Further study will help to confirm this association and determine the extent to which these findings are generalizable to other resource-constrained settings.