Shafii M¹ (PhD Student), Rashidian A^1,2 * ^{(MD, PhD), Nayeri F3 (MD), Charrahi Z4 (MS), Akbarisari A1,2 (MD, PhD), Hamouzadeh P1 (PhD Student)}

  ¹ Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health,

  Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

  ² Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

  ³ Department of Neonatal, Mother, Fetus and Newborn Research Center, Valiasr Hospital, Tehran, Iran

  ⁴ Department of Geography and Rural Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

  Received: 20 Apr 2011, Accepted: 6 Apr 2012

  Abstract

  Introduction: This study was aimed to determine geographical coverage and referral pathways for hospitals with neonatal intensive care units in order to implement the regionalization services in Tehran.

  Methods: Current distribution of hospitals with NICUs in Tehran was evaluated, using routine information and interviews with clinicians. Using GIS methods and WVD software, optimal coverage geographical areas for hospitals were defined and implemented as perinatal care map in Tehran. Finally, referral pathways among hospitals for 22 districts of Tehran were determined.

  Results: Study results indicated inappropriate distribution of hospitals and NICU beds and more concentration of them in central and northern parts of Tehran . Eleven districts of Tehran lacked NICUs and three other districts had more than 90 NICU beds each. Using location of investigated hospitals relative to each other and the number of available NICU beds, five hospitals were identified as a final referral center for 22 districts of Tehran. Each of the five main referral hospitals covers other hospitals considering coverage radius, distance and access routes.

  Conclusion: Present study via determining optimal geographical coverage areas and referral pathways for each of the investigated hospitals, helps decision makers and hospitals to determine target hospital for referring patients and improves quality of health care services.

  Keywords: geographical d istribution , perinatal care, regionalization, mother and infant care, Tehran

  Please cite this article as follows:

  Shafii M, Rashidian A, Nayeri F, Charrahi Z, Akbarisari A, Hamouzadeh P. Geographical Distribution and Presenting Initial Map of Hospital Services Regionalization for Mother and Infant in Tehran. Hakim Research Journal 2012 15(1): 1- 12.

  * Corresponding Author: National Institute of Health Research, No 78, Italia Ave., Tehran, I.R. Iran. Tel: +98- 21- 88991112 , Fax: +98- 21- 88991113, E-mail: arashidian@tums.ac.ir