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Newborn Screening Collection and Delivery Processes in Michigan Birthing Hospitals: Strategies to Improve Timeliness

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Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to determine which steps in the newborn screening collection and delivery processes contribute to delays and identify strategies to improve timeliness. Methods Data was analyzed from infants (N = 94,770) who underwent newborn screening at 83 hospitals in Michigan between April 2014 and March 2015. Linear mixed effects models estimated effects of hospital and newborn characteristics on times between steps in the process, whereas simulation explored how to improve timeliness through adjustments to schedules for the state laboratory and for specimen pickup from hospitals. Results Time from collection to receipt of arrival to the state laboratory varied greatly with collection timing (P < 0.001), with specimens collected on Friday or Saturday delayed an average of 9–12 h compared to other specimens. Simulation estimates shifting specimen pickup from 6 p.m. Sunday–Friday to 9 p.m. Sunday–Friday could lead to an additional 12.6% of specimens received by the Michigan laboratory within 60 h of birth. Conclusions for Practice The time between when a specimen is collected and received by the laboratory can be a significant bottleneck in the newborn screening process. Modifying hospital pickup schedules appears to be a simple way to improve timeliness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA

    Amy L. Cochran

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA

    Beth A. Tarini

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

    Beth A. Tarini

  4. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Lansing, MI, USA

    Mary Kleyn

  5. Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1513 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Gabriel Zayas-Cabán

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  1. Amy L. Cochran
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  2. Beth A. Tarini
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  3. Mary Kleyn
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  4. Gabriel Zayas-Cabán
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Correspondence to Gabriel Zayas-Cabán.

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Cochran, A.L., Tarini, B.A., Kleyn, M. et al. Newborn Screening Collection and Delivery Processes in Michigan Birthing Hospitals: Strategies to Improve Timeliness. Matern Child Health J 22, 1436–1443 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2524-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2524-z

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