OBJECTIVE: To investigate the present situation of neonatal subspecialty in the mainland of China, and provide reference data for further development and standardization of neonatal discipline in China. METHODS: Data of neonatal subspecialty of 109 hospitals in the mainland of China acquired by questionnaire were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 109 hospitals that located in 22 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, 68 (62.4%) had independent neonatology departments, and 41 (37.6%) had neonatal subspecialty groups affiliated to pediatric departments. The average number of neonatal beds was 35.95 (range from 6 to 300, median 30) per unit, compared with a number of 45.21 per unit in grade III-A general hospitals (range from 6 to 300, median 30). In all the 109 hospitals, the general beds to physicians ratio and beds to nurses ratio were 1:3.24 and 1:1.42, respectively. Each unit was in average equipped with 4.50 infant radiant warmers, 23.83 neonatal incubators, 3 normal frequency ventilators and 2.55 CPAP ventilators. All 22 clinical technologies, including ECMO, had been carried out, but only the new resuscitation technique has been carried out in each of these hospitals, and there were still eight technologies that were carried out in less than 50% hospitals. Totally 139 084 infants were treated in 109 hospitals in 2008, with the average number of 1276 patients per unit (range from 32 to 5500, median 1160). The average survival rate and mortality rate during hospitalization were 95.31% and 1.43%, respectively, while the survival rate of very low birth weight premature infants and extremely low birth weight premature infants were 82.43% and 41.30%, respectively. Transport service was provided in 62 (56.9%) hospitals, with the average transport number of 330 infants per hospital, accounting for 20.28% of the total admission. CONCLUSION: The survey shows that neonatal subspecialty in the mainland of China already has a considerable size, however, the development is not balanced. The system of classification of neonatal units and standards of ward construction suitable for China should be set up as soon as possible.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the present situation of neonatal subspecialty in the mainland of China, and provide reference data for further development and standardization of neonatal discipline in China. METHODS: Data of neonatal subspecialty of 109 hospitals in the mainland of China acquired by questionnaire were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 109 hospitals that located in 22 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, 68 (62.4%) had independent neonatology departments, and 41 (37.6%) had neonatal subspecialty groups affiliated to pediatric departments. The average number of neonatal beds was 35.95 (range from 6 to 300, median 30) per unit, compared with a number of 45.21 per unit in grade III-A general hospitals (range from 6 to 300, median 30). In all the 109 hospitals, the general beds to physicians ratio and beds to nurses ratio were 1:3.24 and 1:1.42, respectively. Each unit was in average equipped with 4.50 infant radiant warmers, 23.83 neonatal incubators, 3 normal frequency ventilators and 2.55 CPAP ventilators. All 22 clinical technologies, including ECMO, had been carried out, but only the new resuscitation technique has been carried out in each of these hospitals, and there were still eight technologies that were carried out in less than 50% hospitals. Totally 139 084 infants were treated in 109 hospitals in 2008, with the average number of 1276 patients per unit (range from 32 to 5500, median 1160). The average survival rate and mortality rate during hospitalization were 95.31% and 1.43%, respectively, while the survival rate of very low birth weight premature infants and extremely low birth weight premature infants were 82.43% and 41.30%, respectively. Transport service was provided in 62 (56.9%) hospitals, with the average transport number of 330 infants per hospital, accounting for 20.28% of the total admission. CONCLUSION: The survey shows that neonatal subspecialty in the mainland of China already has a considerable size, however, the development is not balanced. The system of classification of neonatal units and standards of ward construction suitable for China should be set up as soon as possible.