Aims
The chief aim of the Swiss Neonatal Network & Follow-Up Group is to maintain and / or improve the quality and safety of medical care for high-risk newborn infants and their families in Switzerland through a coordinated program of research, education and collaborative audit.


Network description
The Swiss Neonatal Network & Follow-Up Group is a non-profit voluntary collaboration of health care professionals dedicated to improving the quality and safety of medical care for high-risk newborn infants and their families. Inaugurated in 1995, the Network is today comprised of all 9 Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), most of the smaller Neonatal Units (NUs) and most Neuropediatric Centers in Switzerland under the auspices of the Swiss Society of Neonatology.

In support of its aims, the Network maintains a database including information about the care and outcomes of high-risk newborn infants. The database provides a complete record of unique, reliable and confidential data to participating units on a five-year basis starting in 2000 and a limited record for extremely preterm infants on a yearly basis.

In addition, health care professionals from participating institutions are actively engaged in long-term follow-up studies and epidemiological and outcomes research.

The Network disseminates the results of its work in annual Network mailings to all participating NICUs/NUs and/or Follow-up centers and scientific articles in peer reviewed medical journals. In order to identify areas of interest for qualitative improvement, the directors of the participating institution meet once or twice a year on a voluntary basis to discuss hospital to hospital comparisons. Health care professionals involved in the follow-up program meet twice a year to discuss the current state of affairs and coordinate further steps.

With regards to its Follow-up program, the Network also supports training of new staff and coordinates help between centers.