This improved survival occurred despite inclusion of smaller, sicker infants at the border of viability. According to the authors, this pattern of improved neonatal survival suggests a powerful effect of intensive care technologies both before and after delivery. They calculated odds of death based on birthweight and illness severity upon NICU admission and measured therapeutic intensity. Characterization of the triage process in neonatal intensive care. Pediatrics 102, pp.
Neonatal triage involves the evaluation and short-term management of infants after delivery.
Triage is a time-intensive process that accounts for nearly 10 percent of total NICU costs, according to this study. The researchers collected data on 2,486 newborn infants who were admitted to two NICUs for less than 24 hours and subsequently discharged to routine care. They estimated daily NICU workload based on the number and labor intensity of NICU admissions.