Evaluating Care in Safety Net Hospitals: Clinical Outcomes and NICU Quality of Care in California

Abstract

Background: The factors that underlie racial and ethnic disparities in care and outcomes among very low birth weight (VLBW; ≤ 1,500 grams) infants remain unclear. Site of care may be a key driver of disparities due to variations in hospital performance and quality of care. This study examines the characteristics of NICUs from safety net and non-safety net hospitals in California and the extent to which site of care is associated with racial/ethnic disparities. …