CURRENT PROCESS OF NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE SERVICES IN ISTANBUL

Sinan Uslu; Asli Yuksel; Aysegul Uslu; Bekir Turan; Gulsen Meral Sezer; Ali Bulbul; Memet Taskin Egici; Selami Albayrak; Guven Bektemur

Volume : V, Issue : II, February - 2016

CURRENT PROCESS OF NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE SERVICES IN ISTANBUL

Sinan Uslu, Asli Yuksel, Aysegul Uslu, Bekir Turan, Gulsen Meral Sezer, Ali Bulbul, Memet Taskin Egici, Selami Albayrak, Guven Bektemur

Abstract :

 Aims: Quality of perinatal care is evaluated with establishing perinatal centers, socioeconomic status, education, competence of medical technology of population and especially maternal, perinatal and neonatal mortality and morbidity influenced by neonatal care organization. The aim of the study was to determine current status of neonatal intensive care unit’s incubator number, distribution and service and location of neonatologists in process in Istanbul. Material and Method: In this retrospective study evaluations were performed by considering the current data that belongs to year 2014 of NICU’s from the Public Inpatient Health Services and Emergency Health Services Branch Offices of Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate. Results: The total number of neonatal beds in Istanbul is 1870 as of the year 2014 [1.level: 290(15.5%), 2nd level: 555 (29.7%), 3rd level: 1025 (54.8%)]. 511 (27.3%) of these beds are located in public health institutions. Neonatologists were available in hospitals which had 758 (40.5%) of neonatal beds in Istanbul. 308 (40.6%) of these beds located in special hospitals (20 neonatologists) and of 450 (59.4%) located in public hospitals (30 neonatologists). 18.2% of babies born in a year in Istanbul received inpatient treatment and it is noteworthy that nearly half of them (47.8%) followed in 3rd level beds. Conclusions: It was detected that in Istanbul, the definition of level of neonatal beds was distorted, and that the number and working order of neonatologists were inadequate. Regionalization of perinatal care for Istanbul must be performed by taking sociodemographic data. In updating the official regulations for ensuring service delivery it is a necessity to keep realistic goals, and health policies regarding newborn health should be determined with participation of all the shareholders that have worked in newborn service delivery