MEDNAX, Inc., (NYSE: MD) today announced that it has recorded the one
million neonatal health record in its Clinical Data Warehouse (CDW)
using BabySteps®, the company’s proprietary and certified electronic
health record (EHR).
BabySteps was developed in 1996 and has since been used in Pediatrix
Medical Group Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) to capture a
consistent set of information about patients, which then gets entered in
to the CDW. Pediatrix’s CDW is now recognized as one of the world’s most
robust neonatal databases for both the quality and quantity of its data.
It is increasingly used and quoted as a source of critical information
and has been shared in collaboration with numerous academic
institutions, including Duke University, Vanderbilt University and the
University of Pennsylvania, as well as being queried often by health
organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control.
“Having one million neonatal records in our Clinical Data Warehouse is
truly a milestone with great significance to our patients, physicians
and our hospital partners,” said Alan Spitzer, M.D., Senior Vice
President and Director of Clinical Research, Education and Quality at
MEDNAX. “By analyzing these data, using them to develop
quality-improvement initiatives, and benchmarking our outcomes, we
empower our health care providers to deliver better, more cost-effective
care.”
In 2009, using the data garnered by BabySteps and stored in the CDW,
Pediatrix launched the 100,000 Babies Campaign as the ongoing focus of
the company’s neonatal Clinical Quality Initiative (CQI) efforts. This
ongoing multi-disciplinary program focuses on a balanced approach to
improving NICU processes that drive neonatal outcomes. The 100,000
Babies Campaign has demonstrated sustained improvement in outcomes such
as enhancing nutrition and weight gain in low birth-weight infants,
optimizing medication use, reducing central line infections, minimizing
mechanical ventilation and reducing suboptimal admission temperatures.
As part of MEDNAX’s ongoing commitment to improving patient care through
evidence-based medicine, the Company leads and engages in clinical
research, education and continuous quality improvement initiatives
across its Pediatrix and American Anesthesiology Divisions. These
initiatives contribute to improved patient outcomes and reduce long-term
health system costs. In addition, the Company’s investments in these
areas help to attract and retain clinicians, improve clinical operations
and enhance practice communication.
ABOUT MEDNAX
MEDNAX, Inc. is a national medical group comprised of the nation's
leading providers of neonatal, anesthesia, maternal-fetal and pediatric
physician subspecialty services. Physicians and advanced practitioners
practicing as part of MEDNAX are reshaping the delivery of care within
their specialties and subspecialties, using evidence-based tools,
continuous quality initiatives and clinical research to enhance patient
outcomes and provide high-quality, cost-effective care. Pediatrix
Medical Group, a unit of MEDNAX, was founded in 1979 and now includes
neonatal physicians who provide services at more than 360 neonatal
intensive care units, who collaborate with affiliated maternal-fetal
medicine, pediatric cardiology and pediatric critical care physician
subspecialists to provide a clinical care continuum. Pediatrix is also
the nation's largest provider of newborn hearing screens. In 2007,
MEDNAX expanded into anesthesia services. Today, American Anesthesiology
includes more than 2,050 anesthesiologists and advanced practitioners
who provide anesthesia care to patients in connection with surgical and
other procedures as well as pain management. MEDNAX, through its
affiliated professional corporations, employs more than 2,425 physicians
in 34 states and Puerto Rico. Additional information is available at www.mednax.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2014