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  • Original Article
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Estimating the quality of neonatal transport in California

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To develop a strategy to assess the quality of neonatal transport based on change in neonatal condition during transport.

Study Design:

The Canadian Transport Risk Index of Physiologic Stability (TRIPS) score was optimized for a California (Ca) population using data collected on 21 279 acute neonatal transports, 2007 to 2009, using models predicting (2/3) and validating (1/3) mortality within 7 days of transport. Quality Change Point 10th percentile (QCP10), a benchmark of the greatest deterioration seen in 10% of the transports by top-performing teams, was established.

Result:

Compared with perinatal variables (0.79), the Ca-TRIPS had a validation receiver operator characteristic area for prediction of death of 0.88 in all infants and 0.86 in infants transported after day 7. The risk of death increased 2.4-fold in infants whose deterioration exceeded the QCP10.

Conclusion:

We present a practical, benchmarked, risk-adjusted, estimate of the quality of neonatal transport.

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Acknowledgements

CPeTS data: This work was supported by California Department of Health, Maternal Child and Adolescent Health Branch.

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Correspondence to J B Gould.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Appendices

Appendix Table A1

Table 4 Comparison of original TRIPS, recalibrated California TRIPS and modified California TRIPS

Appendix Table A2

Table 5 Final California Model used for calculating California-TRIPS

Appendix Table A3

Table 6 Example for use of QCP in CPQCC reporting back to members, mean change in TRIPS from initial evaluation to NICU admission, by birth weight (g)

Appendix Table A4

Table 7 CORE CPeTS Acute Inter-facility—Neonatal Transport Form

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Gould, J., Danielsen, B., Bollman, L. et al. Estimating the quality of neonatal transport in California. J Perinatol 33, 964–970 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2013.57

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