Key indicators and information systems for the evaluation and planning of birthing hospital services

The evaluation, monitoring and management of hospital of birth services requires the availability of a set of information and tools able to orient decision making process, in order to ensure an adequate level of quality of services provided. Given the complexity of birth-related services, a set of indicators related with the multiple dimensions of healthcare quality are required; these include: volume of activity, complexity of birth, territorial distribution and residents-hospital distance, infrastructures, and inter-hospital transfers. The present Paper proposes an integrated system of indicators for the promotion and improvement of birth-related services in the Sicily region, which takes into account for the different dimensions of quality involved in the evaluation process. The proposed indicators can be monitored by local policy makers and healthcare responsible thanks to an easy-to-use information system. The proposed tools can complement existing guidelines in the planning and management of regional healthcare plans.