Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act Model to Decrease NICU Admissions by Keeping Infants Exposed to Chorioamnionitis At the Bedside

Asymptomatic newborns of women diagnosed with chorioamnionitis were traditionally admitted to the Intensive Care Nursery after birth for sepsis screening and prophylactic antibiotic therapy. Separating newborns from mothers can potentially interfere with bonding and breastfeeding, and also impact resource utilization. A collaborative effort led by our Unit Based Clinical Leadership used PDSA methodology to assess the impact of admitting these stable newborns directly to the Mother-Baby unit for care; providing increased surveillance while minimizing separation.