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Am J Perinatol 2015; 32(13): 1198-1204
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1552938
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Impact of Specialized Nursery Care for Late Preterm Infants on NICU Admission Rate and Length of Stay

Laura Hunt
1   Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal-Perinatal Section, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2   Department of Neonatology, Cook Children's Hospital, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
,
Gene Hallford
3   Department of Pediatrics, Genetics Section, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
,
Candace Robledo
4   School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas
,
Edgardo Szyld
5   Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, New York
6   Department of Mastery in Clinical Research, Universidad Abierta Interamericana, Buenos Aires, Argentina
,
Clara Song
1   Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal-Perinatal Section, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

04 December 2014

19 March 2015

Publication Date:
12 June 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Objective To compare neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission rates and length of stay (LOS) of late preterm infants (LPIs) born before and after opening a specialized care nursery (SCN) at our academic, pediatric tertiary care center with ∼4,500 total deliveries annually.

Study Design Retrospective chart review of inborn LPIs (350/7–366/7 weeks) who were asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic at birth and delivered 7 months before the opening of the SCN (pre-SCN) or 7 months subsequently (post-SCN). Infants were excluded for major congenital anomalies or other conditions requiring immediate NICU admission. The pre-SCN options for care were standard couplet care or NICU. The post-SCN options for care were standard couplet care, SCN, or NICU.

Results Pre-SCN (n = 109), 73 (67%) infants received standard couplet care, while 36 (33%) infants were ever admitted/transferred to the NICU. Post-SCN (n = 112), 59 (53%) infants received standard couplet care, while 20 (18%) were ever admitted/transferred to the NICU. A total of 33 (29%) infants were admitted/transferred to the SCN and avoided a NICU stay. Median LOS for all infants was 3 days.

Conclusion The frequency of LPIs admitted/transferred to the NICU decreased by ∼50% after the opening of the SCN. LOS did not differ by birth cohort, but did differ significantly by location of care (standard couplet care < SCN < NICU).

Keywords

late preterm - NICU admission - Length of Stay

Supplementary Material

 

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