Quality initiatives related to moderately preterm, late preterm, and early term births.

Most premature infants born in the United States each year are classified as either moderately preterm (MPT) or late preterm (LPT) infants. Unnecessary variation in care and lack of evidence-based practices may contribute to the morbidities of prematurity. Quality-improvement (QI) initiatives designed for neonates have primarily focused on extremely low-gestational-age newborns. However, the lessons learned in this group of infants could be applied to decreasing unnecessary variation among MPT and LPT infants. Practice variation in the timing of nonindicated preterm deliveries, the use of progesterone, respiratory care practices, feeding management, and discharge planning are particularly in need of QI.