Critical newborn assistence in intensive care units: model and simulation

High risk newborns mortality has been dramatically reduced by recent progress in perinatal care. Related cares are organised by local regions in assistance structures classified according to three hospital levels; third level structures supply neonatal intensive and sub-intensive care. A simulation model describing critical newborns movements among birth centres and third level hospitals has been built and implemented, with the scope of checking regional third level neonatal care capacity and possibly suggesting suitable adaptations. The model has been usefully applied to Veneto region in Italy.