Abstract
Objective
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the delivery of follow-up care for high-risk infants. We performed an audit to characterize programmatic responses in a quality improvement network.
Study design
We audited 43 North American-based follow-up programs of the Vermont Oxford Network Extremely Low Birth Weight Follow-up Study Group in October, 2020. Our electronic survey included yes/no, agree/disagree, and free text response items.
Result
The response rate was 67.4%. Most programs altered capacity and the timing, frequency, or content of clinical assessments. Most perceived practice changes compromised their ability to ascertain infants’ medical and developmental needs. There was a rapid uptake of telemedicine services. Despite challenges with implementation, many endorsed improved connectedness with families.
Conclusion
Programs adapted rapidly to meet the needs of high-risk infants during the pandemic. Clinical operations, assessment procedures, and quality metrics will also need to evolve. Quality improvement study group collaboratives are well-positioned to coordinate such work.
【초록키워드】 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic, Infant, Infants, Low birth weight, clinical, response, implementation, Program, network, Follow-up, Quality improvement, group, change, Care, Frequency, Metrics, study group, Oxford, Vermont, North, MOST, objective, clinical assessments, Result, performed, developmental, the timing, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, Infant, network, Care, Oxford, Vermont,