Perinatal Market Penetration Rate

William F. Powers; Laurilynn McGill

doi:10.1055/s-2007-999732

American Journal of Perinatology, Table of Contents

Am J Perinatol 1987; 4(1): 24-28
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-999732

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Perinatal Market Penetration Rate

A Tool to Evaluate Regional Perinatal ProgramsWilliam F. Powers¹ , Laurilynn McGill²

¹Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, and the Perinatal Center, Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois
²Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Family Health, Springfield, Illinois

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Very small babies born in tertiary centers fare better than outborn babies referred for tertiary care after birth. Viewing the 1001-1500 gm regional cohort of fetuses as a potential “market” for center delivery, and measuring a center's penetration into this market, quantitates how well a center draws to itself these small, high-risk fetuses for delivery. An Illinois center's annual penetration rate into its regional market for the years 1973-1983 is presented and significant increases are found. The penetration rates of nine Illinois perinatal centers are calculated and wide discrepancies are found. Defining a high-risk regional cohort as a market stresses a perinatal center's obligation to its region. The penetration rate into a defined market measures how well a center fulfills this obligation.

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