24/7 in house attending staff coverage improves neonatal short-term outcomes: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: to compare short-term outcomes of newborns over 36 weeks with Apgar scores≤3 at 1min, following the adoption of a 24/7 in house coverage schedule STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review comparing two 12-month epochs. Epoch 1: coverage provided by residents with availability on call at home of attending staff. Epoch 2: On site coverage by attending staff. RESULTS: 71 and 60 charts were reviewed from Epoch 1 and 2 respectively. The number of infants receiving chest compressions was reduced during Epoch 2 (from 19% to 1.6%, p<0.0001). The proportion of infants admitted to the NICU (81% vs 61%, p<0.01), and the median length of stay in hospital (61 vs 48h, p=0.03) were significantly reduced in Epoch 2. CONCLUSION(S): Continuous coverage by attending staff decreased the number of admissions to intensive care as well as the duration of hospitalization stay for newborns with low Apgar scores.