Fetal and Infant Mortality Review

The Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Program was established to identify critical community strengths and weakness as well as unique health and social issues associated with poor outcomes of pregnancy. The program is a community-based statewide initiative designed to enhance the health and well being of women, infants, and families through the review of unidentified individual cases of fetal (stillbirth) and infant deaths and voluntary maternal interviews. FIMR will assist in understanding how social, economic, health, educational, environmental, and safety issues relate to infant loss on a local level and to use that information to improve community resources and systems of care to improve maternal and infant health. The National FIMR Program is a collaborative effort between the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau. National FIMR was established in 1990. The Mobile County FIMR Program, The Alabama Baby Coalition, began in 1998. Alabama's statewide FIMR Program was implemented in January 2009.

The FIMR Process

A fetal or infant death is the event that begins the process. The FIMR Program is notified that a fetal or infant death has occurred. Information about the fetal or infant death is gathered from a variety of sources. The mother who has suffered the loss is contacted and asked to participate in a maternal interview. If the mother agrees, an interview is conducted.

• The Case Review Team (CRT) is a multidisciplinary team consisting of a broad range of professional organizations and public and private agencies that provide services and resources for women, infants and families. The team reviews case summaries, identify issues and makes recommendations for community change.
• The Community Action Team (CAT) consists of a diverse group of community leaders who are in a position to direct change at the community level. The team reviews the CRT recommendations, prioritizes identified issues, then designs and implements interventions to improve service systems and resources.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is essential in FIMR. The names of the mother, provider, and institution are removed from all cases. Confidentiality of all information is strictly maintained.

FIMR Benefits

• empowers and inspires communities to create local solutions
• identifies opportunities for interagency partnerships
• facilitates the grieving process for families and connects them with support agencies
• enhances understanding of community needs by presenting the whole picture
• expands available services through cooperative programming and joint funding
• improves existing service delivery system and the quality of services provided by individual professionals, health and related social service agencies, community-based organizations and local health units
• reduces gaps in care
• ultimately reduces fetal and infant mortality

For more information, please view the FIMR Brochure.

FIMR Annual Report

2010 
2009 
2009-2018