Date of Award

2003

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Health Administration

College

College of Health Professions

First Advisor

Thomas F. McIlwain

Second Advisor

David S. Snyder

Third Advisor

Eric Scott Palmer

Abstract

The increasing frequency and complexity of neonatal care are key contributors to rising medical costs. Over the past twenty years, neonatal delivery rates have been increasing and infant mortality rates are improving. Neonatal care has become very expensive with few applicable clinical guidelines for care. ParadigmHealth has developed an integrated, care management structure termed Systematic Care Management© (SCM). The premise is that by promoting the most expert and efficient neonatal care, significant reductions in morbidity will occur, reducing the need for and reduced cost of NICU and subsequent care. The aim of the study was to determine whether the SCM process is associated with reductions in neonatal average length of hospital stay. While inconclusive, the results of this study indicate that the application of this system is associated with reductions in NICU average lengths of stay for severity-match neonates. Further experience and analysis is needed to confirm these findings.

Rights

All rights reserved. Copyright is held by the author.

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