Optimizing accuracy of birth certificate data through a statewide quality improvement initiative in Illinois

This study examines improvement in birth certificate accuracy during a statewide quality improvement initiative.

Participating hospitals systematically sampled 10 delivery medical records per month and compared them to corresponding birth certificates for accuracy. Accuracy was computed before implementing the initiative (Aug-Oct 2014), end of phase 1 (July 2015) and end of phase 2 (Nov-Dec 2015). Accuracy data was aggregated and compared across time points using a linear mixed model and by hospital characteristics.

105 hospitals participated. Birth certificate accuracy increased between baseline (89.59%) and end of phase 2 (97.00%, p < 0.001). Percent accuracy at baseline was lowest in hospitals serving at-risk populations (p < 0.01). These hospitals showed relatively greater increases in overall accuracy with no difference in accuracy by the end of the initiative.

A statewide QI effort contributed to improvements in birth certificate accuracy. Hospitals serving at-risk populations exhibited the greatest benefit and improvement.