CDC's Level of Care Assessment Tool LOCATe: Enhancing Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare

Risk-appropriate care is crucial for improving the health of pregnant women and newborns. This approach ensures that mothers and infants with complex medical needs receive specialized care in facilities equipped with the necessary expertise and technology. Conditions such as severe heart problems in mothers or premature births before 32 weeks require a higher level of medical attention.

However, the criteria and methods for evaluating levels of care can differ significantly across states. To address this inconsistency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the CDC Levels of Care Assessment Tool (LOCATe). This tool is designed to help states standardize their assessments of maternal and neonatal care levels in healthcare facilities.

Introducing CDC LOCATe

CDC LOCATe is a valuable resource that enables states and jurisdictions to establish consistent evaluations of maternal and neonatal care levels. It is grounded in the latest guidelines and policy recommendations from leading medical organizations, including:

American Academy of Pediatrics
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

This ensures that the assessments are based on the most current and widely accepted standards in maternal and neonatal healthcare.

How CDC LOCATe Works: Process and Data Utilization

State agencies or organizations that already have established relationships with local hospitals can act as state champions to facilitate the implementation of CDC LOCATe. The process involves several key steps:

Gaining Support for Participation

The first step is to build a network of collaborators who can encourage healthcare facilities to adopt CDC LOCATe. This involves establishing relationships and working towards broad participation across the state, ensuring that a wide range of facilities are included in the assessment process.

Utilizing the Tool for Data Collection

Participating facilities are provided with a link to the CDC LOCATe web-based tool. State champions then distribute this link to hospitals within their jurisdiction. Active follow-up is essential to encourage facilities to complete the assessment and to ensure comprehensive data collection.

Data Analysis and Result Sharing

Once data collection is complete, the state submits the compiled data to the CDC. The CDC then analyzes the information to determine the levels of maternal and neonatal care provided by each facility. The results, which are standardized and objective, are then shared back with the state. States can use and distribute these results as they see fit, empowering them with critical insights into their healthcare landscape.

Benefits of CDC LOCATe Data for States

CDC LOCATe provides standardized assessments, allowing states to understand the levels of care available at each facility and the overall distribution of services and staff across the state. This data is invaluable for strategic planning and resource allocation.

By combining CDC LOCATe data with other public health data, states can conduct in-depth analyses. This integrated approach allows for the examination of how levels of care and the volume of services provided by a facility may correlate with patient health outcomes. Such analyses can reveal areas for improvement and inform targeted interventions to enhance healthcare quality.

Who Should Utilize CDC LOCATe?

CDC LOCATe is specifically designed for public health decision-makers. It fosters informed discussions among various stakeholders involved in risk-appropriate care, such as:

State and local public health departments
State Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQCs)
Hospital associations
Healthcare providers specializing in maternal and neonatal care

The results generated by CDC LOCATe serve as a foundation for constructive dialogues on how to improve health outcomes for both women and infants, leading to more effective and efficient healthcare systems.

CDC LOCATe: A Free Resource

Participation in and utilization of the CDC LOCATeSM is offered at no cost. For those interested in participating or seeking further information about CDC LOCATe, inquiries can be directed to [email protected].