[The Association for Computerized Medical Records Users in Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology sentinel network...

The observation of medical practices and the analysis of outcome as a function of practices are essential today for monitoring and improvement of the healthcare system. The AUDIPOG Sentinel Network provides a tool for the self-assessment of practices that enables each unit to assess its position relative to a group of maternity wards.

Pooling of individual data about births that occurred during the month of January each year in about a hundred volunteer wards allows assessing perinatal health indicators and following their evolution over time. A sample rectification technique, adapted from the quota method, allows offsetting the methodological problems created by volunteering and assessing perinatal indicators at the national level.

The analysis of data collected from 1994 to 1997 indicates a number of trends, even in the short run, and justifies that a real practice monitoring and assessment tool be set up in order to improve perinatal health.