At the end of November, 2019, the National Center for Health Statistics published final natality data for 2018 (Martin, Hamilton, Osterman, & Driscoll, 2019). As a perinatal clinical nurse specialist, I have participated in many meetings during which data and trends have been mentioned (sometimes inaccurately), and used to make policy and clinical decisions. It is important for maternity and pediatric nurses to be aware of how to immediately access these types of data to contribute to the decision-making in real time. Once iPad and laptop use by hospital leaders became ubiquitous in meetings, I found I was able to locate data almost instantly, with knowledge of where to find it. United States natality data, including state-specific data, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics (2020) are very useful, as is cost and use of clinical services from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (2020). Accurate data are an important aspect of promoting patient safety.
Highlights of the final natality data for 2018 (Martin et al., 2019) are included in the table. As a supplement to the published data are internet tables that offer much more detail. I encourage you to become familiar with these types of resources.
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