Quality and Outcomes Reports - Neonatology
Average length of stay
Why we measure it - We realize the importance of not having a child stay in the hospital any longer than necessary. The average time a child is in the hospital depends on many factors including the seriousness of the illness or injury. Medical therapies can have a significant impact on recovery and length of hospital stay.
What this means - Children's Hospital of Wisconsin provides the highest quality of care and sometimes those extra efforts and precautions result in a longer hospital stay. Our average length of stay is slightly longer for gastroschisis and congenital diaphragmatic hernia compared to the national average. The hospital stay for necrotizing enterocolitis is less than the national average.
About the data - This graph reflects the average number of days babies with certain defects stay in the hospital before going home compared to Pediatric Hospital Information System peers. PHIS hospitals represent other leading freestanding pediatric hospitals.
Related dimensions of care:
What we're doing to provide the best care:
- Through the Fetal Concerns Center of Wisconsin, we can diagnose many birth defects and other health concerns in unborn babies and offer counseling and coordinated medical care for mother and baby. This allows families and staff time to anticipate needs and plan care, which improves the care provided at birth.
- Mothers are able to deliver at the Froedtert & Medical College Birth Center, which is located inside Children's Hospital. One of our neonatology specialists attends the delivery. Our pediatric surgeons always are available and see the baby immediately upon arrival at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Research shows outcomes improve when the delivery room and operating room are close together. This also offers families the added convenience of having mother and baby hospitalized near one another.
- Neonates receive speech, physical and occupational therapy while in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to make sure they learn how to grab, hold, suck, swallow and eat - skills even the sickest babies need to develop normally.
- We offer the Family Accommodations Program to help make travel arrangements and coordinate appointments for families traveling to our center from a long distance.
Patients and families:
- Be an advocate for your child. Participate in daily bedside clinical discussions, and provide any information about your child that may be helpful to staff.
- Follow medical instructions fully and carefully before and after surgery.
- Ask questions if you don't understand the plan of care or if you are not sure how to care for your child at home.
Referring physicians:
- Referring physicians can access our specialists for consultation or transport 24 hours a day. Call our physician referral line at (800) 266-0366.
- Health care providers from outside of our southeastern Wisconsin service area are encouraged to use our web-based
e-Consult service. This service is available for non-urgent patient cases only and gives providers access to our specialists to review patient cases, obtain medical advice or second opinions, and receive care recommendations for rare symptoms and illnesses.
e-Consult is not to be used by the general public, parents/guardians or families. - Care guidelines for medical professionals
- Educational materials
- Pocket Directory
If you have questions about this information, email us or call (414) 266-6556.