Approximately 55 percent of infant deaths are among Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW infants), which is defined as weighing less than 1500g. The best outcomes for VLBW infants occur when they are delivered in the appropriate level perinatal unit, a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This measure looks at the number per 1,000 livebirths of <1500g infants delivered at hospitals not equipped to care for infants of that size. While this can be calculated at the hospital level, it is best done at the state or regional level.
The measure was first endorsed by the National Quality Forum in 2008, and California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative was the developer and steward. We did not submit this measure for re-endorsement in 2016 as we are not using it at this time.