Reimagining Neonatal Follow-Up: An Equitable Model of Care Emphasizing Family and Child Function

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Public Health
• Healthcare Delivery Systems

Background:

• Neonatal follow-up programs are crucial for assessing outcomes of preterm infants.
• Historical reviews reveal persistent challenges in accessing and receiving equitable care.
• Parental perspectives on important outcomes are often overlooked in traditional follow-up.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the history and challenges of neonatal follow-up.
• To identify inequities in access and delivery of care.
• To propose an equitable, function-focused model for neonatal follow-up.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of historical neonatal follow-up literature.
• Analysis of common and parent-identified outcomes of prematurity.
• Assimilation of evidence from various care models.
• Development of a proposed care model integrating local resources and academic centers.

Main Results:

• Significant challenges and inequities exist in neonatal follow-up access and delivery.
• Common and parent-prioritized outcomes of prematurity are identified.
• Various care models demonstrate potential for improved delivery.
• A collaborative, resource-leveraging model can enhance equity.

Conclusions:

• Addressing historical inequities in neonatal follow-up is essential.
• A function-focused, equitable care model is needed for all infants.
• Collaboration between local resources and academic centers can improve care delivery.
• Future models should prioritize parental-identified outcomes and functional status.