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Objective: To examine resource and service use after discharge among infants born extraordinarily preterm in California who attended high-risk infant follow-up (HRIF) clinic by 12 months corrected age., Study Design: We included infants born 2010-2017 between 22 + 0/7 and 25 + 6/7 weeks' gestational age in the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative and California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative-California Children's Services HRIF databases. We evaluated rates of hospitalization, surgeries, medications, equipment, medical service and special service use, and referrals. We examined factors associated with receiving ≥ 2 medical services, and ≥ 1 special service., Results: A total of 3941 of 5284 infants received a HRIF visit by 12 months corrected age. Infants born at earlier gestational ages used more medications, equipment, medical services, and special services and had higher rates of referral to medical and special services at the first HRIF visit. Infants with major morbidity, surgery, caregiver concerns, and mothers with more years of education had higher odds of receiving ≥ 2 medical services. Infants with Black maternal race, younger maternal age, female sex, and discharge from lower level neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) had lower odds of receiving ≥ 2 medical services. Infants with more educated mothers, multiple gestation, major morbidity, surgery, caregiver concerns, and discharge from lower level NICUs had increased odds of receiving a special service., Conclusions: Infants born extraordinarily preterm have substantial resource use after discharge. High resource utilization was associated with maternal/sociodemographic factors and expected clinical factors. Early functional and service use information is valuable to parents and underscores the need for NICU providers to appropriately prepare and refer families., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To determine rates of at least 1 high-risk infant follow-up (HRIF) visit by 12 months corrected age, and factors associated with successful first visit among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in a statewide population-based setting., Study Design: We used the linked California Perinatal Quality of Care Collaborative and California Perinatal Quality of Care Collaborative-California Children's Services HRIF databases. Multivariable logistic regression examined independent associations of maternal, sociodemographic, neonatal clinical, and HRIF program factors with a successful first HRIF visit among VLBW infants born in 2010-2011., Results: Among 6512 VLBW children referred to HRIF, 4938 (76%) attended a first visit. Higher odds for first HRIF visit attendance was associated with older maternal age (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.27-1.72; 30-39 vs 20-29 years), lower birth weight (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.69-2.65; ≤750 g vs 1251-1499 g), private insurance (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.19-2.31), a history of severe intracranial hemorrhage (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.12-2.30), 2 parents as primary caregivers (OR, 1.18, 95% CI 1.03-1.36), and higher HRIF program volume (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.88-3.66; second vs lowest quartile); and lower odds with maternal race African American or black (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.54-0.78), and greater distance to HRIF program (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.57-0.83). Rates varied substantially across HRIF programs, which remained after risk adjustment., Conclusions: In a population-based California VLBW cohort, maternal, sociodemographic, and home- and program-level disparities were associated with HRIF non-attendance. These findings underscore the need to identify challenges in access and resource risk factors during hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit, provide enhanced education about the benefits of HRIF, and create comprehensive neonatal intensive care unit-to-home transition approaches., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To determine rates and factors associated with referral to the California Children's Services high-risk infant follow-up (HRIF) program among very low birth weight (BW) infants in the California Perinatal Quality of Care Collaborative., Study Design: Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined independent associations of demographic and clinical variables, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) volume and level, and California region with HRIF referral., Results: In 2010-2011, 8071 very low BW infants were discharged home; 6424 (80%) were referred to HRIF. Higher odds for HRIF referral were associated with lower BW (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.5-2.4; ≤ 750 g vs 1251-1499 g), higher NICU volume (OR 1.6, 1.2-2.1; highest vs lowest quartile), and California Children's Services Regional level (OR 3.1, 2.3-4.3, vs intermediate); and lower odds with small for gestational age (OR 0.79, 0.68-0.92), and maternal race African American (OR 0.58, 0.47-0.71) and Hispanic (OR 0.65, 0.55-0.76) vs white. There was wide variability in referral among regions (8%-98%) and NICUs (<5%-100%), which remained after risk adjustment., Conclusions: There are considerable disparities in HRIF referral, some of which may indicate regional and individual NICU resource challenges and barriers. Understanding demographic and clinical factors associated with failure to refer present opportunities for targeted quality improvement initiatives., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)