FIMR is an anonymous, community owned, action-oriented cycle of improving maternal and infant health.  The Louisiana Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Network formed in 2001 to address Louisiana’s high infant mortality rate and is based on the National FIMR initiative of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This national program is an anonymous review process of stillbirths and infant deaths.  A summary of these reviews are presented to community members in order to understand the modifiable circumstances associated with infant deaths, improve services and resources for women, infants and families and potentially reduce the occurrence of future deaths, ultimately reducing infant mortality in the state of Louisiana.

Goal:

To reduce the fetal-infant mortality rate in targeted areas by identifying health system interventions for improvement including prenatal care, social support services, education, home visitation and community based outreach after periodic review and analysis of abstracted regional fetal and infant deaths.

How Does the FIMR Process Work?

The process begins when a fetal or infant death occurs in a community. Throughout each of the following steps, confidentiality of all case information is maintained.

Information about the infant death is abstracted by FIMR Registered Nurse (RN) staff. Sources include vital records, public health, medical, and social service records.

An interview with the mother who has suffered the loss is conducted by the FIMR RN.

Case Review Team (CRT) composed of healthcare providers, social workers, and regional hospital staff review the de-identified case and interview summary. The team then identifies issues and makes recommendations to the Community Action Team.

Community Action Team (CAT) members consisting of community groups and hospital staff review the CRT’s recommendations, targets resources for outreach, and works within the community to develop and support an action plan to address issues defined by the case reviews.

For more information contact:

Debra Feller, RN, MCH Coordinator - Region 4, debra.perna@la.gov

Jade Marler, RN, MCH Coordinator - Region 5, jade.marler@la.gov

Lisa Norman, RN, MCH Coordinator – Region 6, lisa.norman@la.gov

Kayla Livingston, RN, MCH Coordinator – Region 6, kayla.livingston@la.gov

Kristen Falgoust, RN, MCH Coordinator - Region 2, kristen.falgoust@la.gov