CoIIN: Perinatal Regionalization

Neonatal intensive care and regionalization of perinatal care was developed in the late 1970's in Alabama. Availability of neonatal intensive care served as the framework for the organization of regionalized care. The State Perinatal Program is based on a concept of regionalization of care, a systems approach in which program components in a geographic are defined and coordinated to ensure that pregnant women and their infants have access to appropriate care.

The goal of perinatal regionalization is to reduce infant deaths by infants being delivered at appropriate facilities. The goal for Alabama's perinatal regionalization is for 90 percent of babies to be delivered at a facility capable of providing the appropriate level of care for their needs.

Resources

• Alabama Perinatal Health Act (22-12A-4)
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Levels of Neonatal Care