EXPERIENCE OF A MASSACHUSETTS PERINATAL CENTER

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has encouraged regionalization of maternity and newborn care to achieve its goal of reducing infant mortality to 10 per thousand live births. Regionalization is based on early recognition of and treatment for the mother and infant at risk for disability or death. This approach entails the development of a cooperative system that makes maximum use of highly trained personnel and facilities with reasonable cost effectiveness. Recent improvements in the quality of care to infants at risk, particularly those weighing less than 1500 g, have stimulated an increase in the number of intensive-care nurseries. © 1979, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.