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Am J Perinatol 2024; 41(S 01): e1362-e1367
DOI: 10.1055/a-2024-1145
Original Article

Decreasing the Newborn Birth Hospitalization Length of Stay

Portia Groening
1   Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
2   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
,
Ellen J. Silver
1   Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
,
Sheri L. Nemerofsky 
1   Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
2   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
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Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to determine our ability to shorten birth hospitalization length of stay (LOS) in which patient characteristics were associated with early discharge and had effects on early newborn readmission rate.

Study Design Retrospective chart review of births from April 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, was considered for this study. Delivery mode and maternal and newborn characteristics were evaluated for effect on discharge timing. Hospital readmissions within 7 days of discharge were reviewed.

Results In total, 845 out of 1,077 total live births were included in the study population. Five hundred and eighty-nine (69.7%) newborns were discharged early (<48 hours after vaginal delivery [VD] and <72 hours after cesarean delivery [CS]). Factors associated with early discharge included 79.8% CS (p < 0.001), 84% birth after 2 p.m. (p < 0.001), 71.2% no diagnosis of maternal diabetes (p = 0.02), and 70.6% negative maternal coronavirus disease 2019 (p = 0.01). The overall 7-day readmission rate was 1.2 and 0.5% for newborns discharged early after VD.

Conclusion Most newborns can be discharged early without increasing newborn readmission.

Key Points

  • Most patients were discharged <72 hours after CS.

  • Most patients were discharged <48 hours after VD.

  • Early discharge does not affect newborn readmissions.

Keywords

newborn - birth - hospitalization - early - discharge - timing - length of stay


Publication History

Received: 01 June 2022

Accepted: 18 January 2023

Accepted Manuscript online:
01 February 2023

Article published online:
27 February 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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