Since its beginnings in 1979, Mednax® has been empowering clinicians to improve patient care through evidenced-based medicine. One way is through our commitment to and support of clinical research. Mednax clinicians participate in numerous research initiatives and publish articles and papers every year. In conjunction with Healthcare Quality Week, which acknowledges the improvements to patient outcomes made by health care professionals, we are highlighting some noteworthy research initiatives from 2021.
At the Pediatric Academic Societies 2021 virtual meeting in May, more than 35 Mednax clinicians contributed as presenting authors and co-authors. This opportunity allows our clinicians to showcase their hard work and share it with others. In addition, clinicians learn and collaborate with their colleagues to improve their clinical care.
Veeral Tolia, M.D., neonatologist with Pediatrix® Medical Group of Texas and a research director for the Clinical Data Warehouse (CDW), recently published “Low Rate of Spontaneous Closure in Premature Infants Discharged with a Patent Ductus Arteriosus: A Multicenter Prospective Study” in the Journal of Pediatrics. Pediatrix-affiliated neonatologists and pediatric cardiologists collaborated on this multicenter study sponsored by the Mednax Center for Research, Education, Quality & Safety. The objective of the study was to assess the rate of spontaneous closure and the incidence of adverse events in infants with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) who were discharged home and followed up to 18 months of age. The team concluded that spontaneous closure of the PDA occurred in slightly less than half of premature infants by age one, lower than prior published reports. The high rate of assisted closure and/or adverse events in this population warrants close surveillance following discharge.
Several of our clinicians collaborated on a fetal growth restriction study, which was presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine annual meeting and published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM. The study, “Impact of adding abdominal circumference to the definition of fetal growth restriction,” was conducted and authored by C. Andrew Combs, M.D., and Amber del Rosario with Obstetrix® Medical Group of San Jose; Ramon Castillo, M.D., with Regional Obstetric Consultants; and Gilbert Webb, M.D., with Maternal-Fetal Diagnostic Center of Atlanta.
In an ongoing effort to improve mental health, neonatologist Angela Fagiana, M.D., and co-investigators took a new look at how prolonged NICU admission affects the cognitive, behavioral and emotional well-being of military families. In their study, “A different kind of battle: the effects of NICU admission on military parent mental health,” the team identified that depression screenings could help identify those at risk of adverse effects to their mental health.
Clinical research also explores health care provider experience. Teresa Bailey, NP, and Molly Pont, M.D., participated in a research project looking at the autonomy of neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) titled “An exploration of perceived neonatal nurse practitioner authority in a restricted practice setting.”
Even when Mednax clinicians aren’t directly involved in a clinical research initiative, the data they gather daily in the Pediatrix Clinical Data Warehouse supports other studies, as evidenced by an article in Physician’s Weekly, “Notable Drop in Use, Duration of Mechanical Ventilation in Preemies.”
Our mission is to “Take great care of the patient, every day and in every way™,” and we salute the Mednax professionals who dedicate their time and knowledge to ongoing support of clinical research. View more of our clinician’s outstanding research here.
Questions regarding research applications can be directed to mednax_research@mednax.com.