As the impact of COVID-19 on the care of the newborn infants and families we serve was highly uncertain and rapidly changing, VON and the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Neonatal Perinatal Medicine (SONPM) created a tool to help newborn care teams understand the impact of COVID-19 in their own units and more broadly in the neonatal community.

The goal of the audit was to inform local and national decision-making for program evaluation and quality improvement. It was open to all hospitals caring for infants (regardless of VON membership) and ran monthly from April to September 2020 then again in December 2020 and March 2021.

Participants reported 7 confirmed cases and 17 suspected cases in mother-baby rooms, Level I, II, III, or IV units, or special units for COVID-19. The numbers of newborns with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 were low at most centers, ranging from 0 to 8.

Many centers are experiencing shortages of equipment, testing and personnel that significantly affect the quality of care for newborn infants and families: 44% experienced at least one shortage.

Overall, 13% reported requiring proof of testing or vaccination from families, and 7% from staff, to enter a newborn unit. Most centers will not require vaccination (75%) — 20% will require vaccination and 5% reported unknown.

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