Purpose: To address capacity problems at tertiary-level neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) within current staffing limitations, our study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of identifying very preterm neonates not in need of highly specialised, tertiary-level, NICU care. Methods: We developed and internally validated a clinical prediction model to identify very preterm neonates in need of tertiary-level NICU care within the first 72 h after birth in the Netherlands. The outcome was defined as one or more of: 1) endotracheal surfactant administration, 2) endotracheal/mechanical ventilation, and 3) inotropic administration. Multivariable logistic regression, with a priori selected predictors, was used on a retrospective cohort of very preterm neonates admitted to the tertiary-level NICU of Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital, between January 2018 and December 2022. Bootstrapping was used for internal validation. Results: Of 654 included neonates, 45.1% (n = 295) needed tertiary-level NICU care. The final model included six predictors. Evaluating the model’s discriminative performance resulted in an area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve of 0.77 [95%CI: 0.73–0.80]. A low-risk classification threshold of 20% yielded high sensitivity (93% [95%CI 90–96%]) and a specificity of 26% [95%CI: 22–31%], predicting a low risk of needing tertiary-level NICU care for 114 neonates, accurately selecting 94 of them. Conclusion: This prediction model demonstrates the feasibility of perinatal identification of very preterm neonates not in need of tertiary-level NICU care. Future research should focus on updating the model to a source population of women with imminent preterm birth.

Background: Real-time audiovisual communication between healthcare providers (HCP) at different hospitals (TeleNeonatology) can improve neonatal outcomes, address capacity challenges, and reduce emotional burden on parents. Despite its potential, TeleNeonatology has yet to be widely implemented in routine clinical care, partly due to non-optimal integration into care pathways and working routines. To provide insights for further adoption, this study presents the evaluation of a pilot in the Netherlands. Methods: A prospective hybrid type III effectiveness-implementation study was conducted in 2024. During the pilot, a TeleNeo program facilitated both acute and elective communication between Erasmus MC NICU-level IV and Amphia NICU-level II. The TeleNeo program was developed and continuously improved during the pilot using co-creation with HCP and parents to enable embedding in care pathways and working routines. A mixed-methods approach was used for evaluation. The primary outcome was a validated 21-item usability questionnaire with five-points Likert Scale questions for parents (n = 50) and HCP (n = 85). Implementation determinants were evaluated with semi-structured interviews and surveys. Effectiveness was measured via parent reported experiences, and clinical outcomes length-of-stay and transfer rate. Results: Twelve months of implementation led to 99 consultations for 50 patients and families, including 33 acute patients, possibly in need of an acute transfer. Evaluation showed high feasibility and adoption. Usability was high among parents (n = 26, median score 5 [interquartile rage: 4–5]) and HCP (n = 48, median score 5 [interquartile range 4–5]). Parents valued rapid expert availability, involvement in transfer decisions, and experienced shared care between the NICUs. HCP observed quick and approachable communication, quicker medical decisions, improved quality of care, and smoother transitions between NICUs. Nurses were able to be more pro-active. In 18% (6/33) of acute cases transfers were perceived to be prevented. HCP highlighted TeleNeo’s influence on the local teams’ autonomy, communication styles, and financial aspects as important barriers in interviews (n = 12) and questionnaires (n = 65). Conclusions: Pilot implementation showed high feasibility of our TeleNeo program, enabling shared care at the optimal location for our patients. Our findings will guide a robust strategy for implementation in the Southwest of the Netherlands, enhancing neonatal care, parental satisfaction and nursing experience.