Addressing drivers of healthcare utilization for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Aim to reduce healthcare utilization (HU) for infants at risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) by 30% in 1 year and sustain for 2 years.

Study design

Baseline data from three Level I & II newborn nurseries from January 2016 to June 2018 informed PDSA cycles from August 2018 to December 2021. Shewhart process control charts evaluated length of stay (LOS), pharmacologic treatment (PT) rates, direct cost (DC), process, and balancing measures for special cause variation (SCV).

Results

Two hundred and seventeen infants showed downward SCV in LOS (12.6 to 4.4 days), PT (53% to 17%) and DC ($12593.82 to $5219.17). Onset of the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with reversible SCV. DC varied by provider specialty.

Conclusion

Transition from MFNASS to E

SUBMITTER: Glait M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9540302 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature