Neonatal Quality and Patient Safety

As director of quality and patient safety for the Hospital’s Division of Neonatology, Jacquelyn Evans, MD, FRCP, FAAP, will lead the development of diagnosis-specific clinical pathways and ensure their effective implementation across the 10-plus sites in CHOP’s Newborn Care Network to optimize clinical care and improve patient safety.

As the former medical director of CHOP’s Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit, Jacquelyn Evans, MD, FRCP, FAAP, is uniquely qualified for her new role as director of quality and patient safety for the Hospital’s Division of Neonatology. As the former medical director of CHOP’s Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit, Jacquelyn Evans, MD, FRCP, FAAP, is uniquely qualified for her new role as director of quality and patient safety for the Hospital’s Division of Neonatology. “The Hospital’s overall mission is to become the safest children’s hospital in the country, and we want to be the safest NICU network in the country,” Evans says. “That mission extends to the care that infants receive throughout our CHOP Newborn Care Network, which has grown rapidly over the last 10 years.”

Dr. Evans will lead the development of diagnosis-specific clinical pathways and ensure their effective implementation across the 10-plus sites in CHOP’s Newborn Care Network — intensive care nurseries within area hospitals that are run by CHOP’s Division of Neonatology — to optimize clinical care and improve patient safety across the network.

“Eliminating variations in care across sites and developing common clinical pathways and care standards will help us prevent harm and provide the very highest level of care,” Dr. Evans adds.

The initiative comes alongside the publication of new standards by the American Academy of Pediatrics for levels of NICU care. Based on these standards, the CHOP Newborn Care Network is comprised of NICU’s that range from Level II to Level IV.

The Harriet and Ronald Lassin Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit at CHOP’s Main Hospital location is now designated as a Level IV NICU. Level IV units offer:

  • The highest level of care for the most complicated and critically ill infants
  • Are located within institutions that can provide on-site surgical management of serious congenital malformations or acquired conditions
  • Have pediatric medical subspecialists, pediatric surgical subspecialists and pediatric anesthesiologists available 24/7
  • Can facilitate transport systems
  • Provide outreach education within the community

“Fortunately, many sick infants do not need Level IV care,” Dr. Evans says. “The Network clinical pathways development can help ensure that patients receive a consistent, safe and excellent standard of care throughout the course of their illnesses and in the Network NICU best targeted to their degree of illness and family needs.”