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Regionalization of neonatal care: benefits, barriers, and beyond

Journal of Perinatology volume 42, pages 835–838 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

The goal of regionalization of neonatal care is to improve infant outcomes by directing patients to hospitals where risk-appropriate care is available. Although evidence shows that regionalized, risk-appropriate neonatal care decreases mortality, especially for high-risk infants, the approach and success of regionalization efforts in the U.S. and around the world is highly variable. Barriers to regionalization exist on the patient, provider, hospital, state, and national levels, which highlight potential opportunities to improve regionalization efforts. Improving neonatal regionalized care delivery requires a collaborative approach inclusive of all stakeholders from patients to national professional organizations, expansion and adaptation of current policies, changes to financial incentives, cross-state collaboration, support of national policies, and partnership between neonatal and obstetric communities to promote comprehensive, regionalized perinatal care.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Sara C. Handley & Scott A. Lorch

  2. Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Sara C. Handley & Scott A. Lorch

  3. Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Sara C. Handley & Scott A. Lorch

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  1. Sara C. Handley
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  2. Scott A. Lorch
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SCH conceptualized, drafted and critically revised the manuscript. SAL conceptualized and critically revised the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sara C. Handley.

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Handley, S.C., Lorch, S.A. Regionalization of neonatal care: benefits, barriers, and beyond. J Perinatol 42, 835–838 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-022-01404-7

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