Patient and Hospital Factors Associated With Unexpected Newborn Complications Among Term Neonates in US Hospitals

In this study, severe unexpected complication rates among term newborns varied widely. When included in the metric numerator, neonatal transfer was the primary factor associated with complications, especially among hospitals with the highest rates. Transfers were more likely to be necessary when infants were born in hospitals with lower levels of neonatal care. Thus, if this metric is to be used in its current form, it would appear that accreditors, regulatory bodies, and payers should consider adjusting for or stratifying by a hospital's level of neonatal care to avoid disincentivizing against appropriate transfers.