Newborn readmissions and virtual primary care delivery: a population-based case-control study.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Health Services Research
• Digital Health

Background:

• Early post-discharge assessment is crucial for newborn health.
• The rise of virtual care necessitates evaluating its impact on newborn outcomes.
• This study investigates the association between primary care visit modality and newborn readmissions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if virtual or in-person primary care visits impact early newborn hospital readmissions.
• To assess the association between virtual care and emergency department (ED) visits for newborns.
• To compare the outcomes of virtual versus in-person post-discharge newborn care.

Main Methods:

• Population-based case-control study using linked health administrative databases (September 2020 - March 2022).
• Compared newborns with readmission (cases) to those without (controls), matched on infant sex, gestational age, and maternal parity.
• Used conditional logistic regression to analyze odds ratios (ORs) for virtual vs. in-person visits, adjusting for covariates.

Main Results:

• Jaundice was the primary reason for readmission in 75% of cases.
• Newborns seen virtually had higher odds of hospital readmission (adjusted OR 1.41).
• The association remained consistent when using a composite outcome of readmission or ED visit (adjusted OR 1.35).

Conclusions:

• Virtual post-discharge visits for newborns are associated with increased odds of hospital readmission compared to in-person visits.
• Findings suggest potential risks with virtual newborn care, warranting further investigation.
• The study underscores the importance of considering visit modality in post-discharge newborn care strategies.