Fetal and Infant Mortality Review-FIMR
The National Fetal and
Infant Mortality Review began in 1990 as a
collaborative effort between the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Federal
Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Since it was first
introduced in the late 1980's, Fetal and Infant
Mortality Review (FIMR) has been a dynamic, community
process. FIMR has enjoyed continued growth and
refinement as more communities have used it.
Today, there are over two hundred FIMR programs.
Different types of agencies sponsor the FIMR program
including city and county health departments, local
hospitals, regional perinatal centers and community
based maternal and child health coalitions.
Florida adopted the FIMR model in 1992. Many of
the state’s Healthy Start Coalitions have been
contracted by the State of Florida to implement FIMR
locally. There are twelve FIMR projects statewide
organized under Florida Statutes 766.101 and funded
by the State of Florida.
FIMR is:
A strategy to close the gap in health
disparities at the community level
A timely and valuable source of
information
about changing health care systems and how they
affect real families trying to access them
A form of continuous quality
improvement that
allows communities to assess the performance of
systems and the impact of changes in those
systems
A voice for local families who have
lost
their baby
A tool that helps local health
officials
implement policies to safeguard families
A program endorsed by the American
College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the March of Dimes
Birth Defects Foundation and the federal Maternal and
Child Health Bureau
Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Projects
are
countywide efforts to better understand the issues
associated with fetal and infant mortality and
morbidity and to develop strategies that improve
perinatal systems of care, locally and
statewide.
FIMR identifies strengths and areas for improvements
in overall services systems and community resources
for women, children and families. FIMR also provides
direction towards the development of new policies to
safeguard them. |
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