Characteristics of neonatal transports in California.
To describe the current scope of neonatal inter-facility transports.



California databases were used to characterize infants transported in the first week after birth from 2009 to 2012.



Transport of the 22 550 neonates was classified as emergent 9383 (41.6%), urgent 8844 (39.2%), scheduled 2082 (9.2%) and other 85 (0.4%). In addition, 2152 (9.5%) were initiated for delivery attendance. Most transports originated from hospitals without a neonatal intensive care unit (68%), with the majority transferred to regional centers (66%). Compared with those born and cared for at the birth hospital, the odds of being transported were higher if the patient's mother was Hispanic, <20 years old, or had a previous C-section. An Apgar score <3 at 10 min of age, cardiac compressions in the delivery room, or major birth defect were also risk factors for neonatal transport.



As many neonates receive transport within the first week after birth, there may be opportunities for quality improvement activities in this area.
Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
V P
VP
Akula
Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, USA.|California Perinatal Transport System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.|California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
J B
JB
Gould
California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
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P
Kan
California Perinatal Transport System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.|California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
L
L
Bollman
Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, USA.|California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
J
J
Profit
Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, USA.|California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
H C
HC
Lee
D002140:California; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
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