TY - JOUR
T1 - Influence of changes in the evaluation of neonatal jaundice
AU - Riskin, Arieh
AU - Cohen, Keren
AU - Kugelman, Amir
AU - Abend-Weinger, Marta
AU - Hemo, Miri
AU - Bader, David
PY - 2014/3
Y1 - 2014/3
N2 - Objective To study the influence of policy changes in the evaluation of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia on discharge process from the nursery. Changes included early assessment of risk factors by universal umbilical blood sampling for blood type, Coombs test, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and universal noninvasive transcutaneous bilirubinometry at discharge. Study Design The 1,569 newborns (≥ 36 weeks' gestation) admitted after the implementation of changes were compared with the 1,822 born before. Results Policy changes improved the diagnosis of G6PD deficiency and ABO incompatibility and decreased the number of referrals from the community for jaundice follow-up. The average number of needlesticks per baby as well as the time required for the analysis of serum bilirubin levels on discharge day decreased. Changes did not significantly increase costs. Conclusion Changes seem to have improved the quality of medical care, including early identification of risk factors and better follow-up of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia with reduction of pain and increased efficiency.
AB - Objective To study the influence of policy changes in the evaluation of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia on discharge process from the nursery. Changes included early assessment of risk factors by universal umbilical blood sampling for blood type, Coombs test, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and universal noninvasive transcutaneous bilirubinometry at discharge. Study Design The 1,569 newborns (≥ 36 weeks' gestation) admitted after the implementation of changes were compared with the 1,822 born before. Results Policy changes improved the diagnosis of G6PD deficiency and ABO incompatibility and decreased the number of referrals from the community for jaundice follow-up. The average number of needlesticks per baby as well as the time required for the analysis of serum bilirubin levels on discharge day decreased. Changes did not significantly increase costs. Conclusion Changes seem to have improved the quality of medical care, including early identification of risk factors and better follow-up of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia with reduction of pain and increased efficiency.
KW - evaluation
KW - neonatal jaundice
KW - policy changes
KW - quality measures
KW - risk factors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84896712939&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1055/s-0033-1343772
DO - 10.1055/s-0033-1343772
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C2 - 23616073
AN - SCOPUS:84896712939
SN - 0735-1631
VL - 31
SP - 203
EP - 208
JO - American Journal of Perinatology
JF - American Journal of Perinatology
IS - 3
ER -