title: Does quality improvement work in neonatology improve clinical outcomes?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Quality improvement initiatives in neonatology have been promoted as an important way of improving outcomes of newborns. The purpose of this review is to examine the effectiveness of recent quality improvement work in improving the outcomes of infants requiring neonatal intensive care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quality improvement collaboratives and single-center projects demonstrate improvement of clinical processes and outcomes in neonatology that impact both preterm and term infants. Declines in morbidities, resource use, and length of stay have been associated with reductions in healthcare costs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent quality improvement work has shown evidence of improvement in clinical outcomes in neonatal intensive care patients. These improvements have important implications for the reduction of healthcare costs in this population.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Research, Education and Quality, Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., Sunrise, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Dan L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ellsbury
authors.forename: Reese H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D009359:Neonatology / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D058996:Quality Improvement; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States