Using clinical data in program design: a family support program for families with preterm infants.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Clinical Informatics
• Family Medicine

Background:

• Premature infant births present significant physical and emotional challenges for families.
• Health plans require effective methods to assess and address these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the utilization of clinical data for assessing the family impact of premature births.
• To guide health plans in developing targeted clinical intervention programs.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing clinical data from computerized medical records.
• Conducting provider and patient interviews.
• Examining the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care data collection process.

Main Results:

• Clinical data analysis can reveal the multifaceted impact of premature births on families.
• This data can inform the development of tailored intervention strategies.
• The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care experience demonstrates a practical approach to data collection for intervention design.

Conclusions:

• Computerized medical records and interviews are valuable tools for understanding the family impact of premature births.
• Data-driven insights are crucial for health plans to design effective interventions for low birthweight babies.
• The described data collection process offers a model for developing supportive clinical programs.