Abstract
From Data to Impact: The Journey of Taiwan Neonatal Network
Dr. Hsiang-Yu Lin (Taiwan)
The Taiwan Neonatal Network (TNN), established in 2016 under the Taiwan Society of Neonatology, demonstrates how a national collaborative network can transform data into meaningful improvements in neonatal care outcomes through systematic quality improvement (QI) and research initiatives. TNN collects standardized de-identified clinical data on infants weighing ≤1500g or <30 weeks gestational age from neonatal intensive care units at 34 participating hospitals nationwide, utilizing quarterly and annual benchmarking reports, online data queries with funnel plot comparisons, and specialized working groups targeting specific QI priorities. The network has achieved significant improvements across multiple domains, with the Hypothermia Prevention Group’s bundle approach reducing admission hypothermia rates from approximately 60% to 15% in participating centers, while simultaneously decreasing severe intraventricular hemorrhage from 21.6% to 5.2%, and respiratory distress syndrome care standardization aligned with national Joint Commission certification programs. Network-wide benchmarking has fostered transparency and collaboration, leading to sustained reductions in necrotizing enterocolitis and late-onset sepsis rates, with research-to-QI feedback loops generating actionable insights including bronchopulmonary dysplasia risk factor analysis of 3,111 preterm infants that guided targeted interventions, and machine learning-based length-of-stay prediction models (ROC AUC 0.72) supporting resource planning. Since 2020, TNN has actively participated in the Asian Neonatal Network Collaboration (AsianNeo), linking networks from multiple countries for comparative studies and best practice sharing, with plans to join the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes (iNeo) to further enhance global knowledge exchange. TNN’s experience demonstrates that connecting data to action creates lasting impact in neonatal care, with key success factors including establishing collaborative data networks with standardized metrics, transparent benchmarking that promotes positive peer pressure, investing in QI capacity building, establishing robust research-to-practice feedback loops, engaging multidisciplinary stakeholders, and participating in international collaborations, providing a blueprint of replicable practices for other regions seeking to improve neonatal care outcomes through systematic, data-driven quality improvement initiatives.