Can health care information technology save babies?

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Neonatal Health
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Electronic medical records (EMRs) offer enhanced patient data accessibility for improved clinical decision-making.
• Neonatal mortality remains a critical public health concern, necessitating interventions for better infant survival rates.

Observation:

• A 12-year county-level analysis examined the impact of EMR adoption in hospitals on neonatal mortality rates.
• Variations in state medical privacy laws were used to instrument EMR adoption, addressing potential endogeneity.

Findings:

• A 10% increase in births at hospitals using EMRs correlated with a reduction of 16 neonatal deaths per 100,000 live births.
• The mortality reduction was primarily linked to decreased deaths from conditions requiring intensive patient monitoring.
• EMR implementation was associated with an estimated cost of $531,000 per life saved.

Implications:

• Widespread EMR adoption in maternity settings could significantly improve neonatal outcomes and reduce infant mortality.
• The findings support policies encouraging EMR implementation to enhance the quality and safety of neonatal care.
• Cost-effectiveness analysis suggests EMRs represent a valuable investment in saving infant lives.