Maternal and child health journal
-
Matern Child Health J · May 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialParent and emergency physician comfort with a system of on-line emergency-focused medical summaries for infants with significant cardiac disease.
Surveys were developed and administered to assess parental comfort with emergency care for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) with cardiac disease and the impact of a web-based database of emergency-focused clinical summaries (emergency information forms-EIF) called Midwest Emergency Medical Services for Children Information System (MEMSCIS) on parental attitudes regarding emergency care of their CSHCN. We hypothesized that MEMSCIS would improve the parent and provider outlook regarding emergencies of young children with heart disease in a randomized controlled trial. Children under age 2 were enrolled in MEMSCIS by study nurses associated with pediatric cardiac centers in a metropolitan area. ⋯ The MEMSCIS Program with its emergency-focused web-based clinical summary improved comfort levels for study parents. We speculate that the program facilitated normalization for parents even if the EIF was not used in an emergency during the study. The MEMSCIS program helps to prepare the family and the emergency system for care of CSHCN outside of the medical home.
-
Matern Child Health J · May 2011
The definition of life: a survey of obstetricians and neonatologists in New York City hospitals regarding extremely premature births.
Among obstetricians and neonatologists in administrative roles in New York City hospitals, a survey was initiated to compare the physicians' definitions of live birth and fetal death, the gestational age at which they consider infants viable, and the resuscitation practices of the neonatologists. The target survey population was 34 neonatologists, and 39 obstetricians representing 41 of the City's 43 maternity hospitals. A telephone survey was used to gather qualitative data from the physicians regarding their definitions of live birth, fetal death, and viability, and their practices regarding extremely premature births. ⋯ For infants born at 20-22 weeks gestation, there were differences in resuscitation practices. There is a gap between clinical practices and reporting requirements for live birth and fetal death. Whereas reporting requirements are based on definitions of live birth and fetal death, physicians make resuscitation and other clinical decisions regarding extremely premature infants based on definitions of viability.