Standardizing neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy evaluation and documentation practices

Infants at risk for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) require a time sensitive evaluation and decision-making regarding treatment with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). Prior to this project, there was no standardized approach to evaluating these infants locally.

Included infants were “at risk for HIE,” defined as meeting the “patient characteristics” and “biochemical criteria” per the institutional HIE pathway. Our primary outcome was documentation of an HIE therapeutic hypothermia evaluation (HIETHE) within the first six hours of life which included: (1) recognition of at-risk status, (2) an encephalopathy exam, and (3) a decision regarding TH. Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles included novel clinical decision support.

From October 2020 to May 2023, among infants at-risk for HIE, the average percentage with an HIETHE documented improved from 47% to 82%.

We standardized the approach to infants at risk for HIE and improved the presence of a complete and timely evaluation regarding TH eligibility.