ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø Levels of Care Assessment ToolSM (ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATeSM) Toolkit

At a glance

Risk-appropriate care is a strategy to ensure that pregnant women and infants get the right care in the right place at the right time. To provide a consistent approach to assessing risk-appropriate care, ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø developed the ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø Levels of Care Assessment Tool (ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATeSM).

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø Levels of Care Assessment Tool to define and monitor the levels of care for pregnant women and infants across the United States.

Risk-appropriate care

Risk-appropriate care is a strategy to improve health outcomes for pregnant women and infants. Women and infants with complex medical conditions should receive care at facilities with a full range of specialists and equipment. Examples of complex medical conditions include severe heart conditions or infants born before 32 weeks of gestation.

However, the definitions and monitoring of levels of care vary widely among states. ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø developed the ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø Levels of Care Assessment Tool to assist states in assessing facility levels of maternal and neonatal care.

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATe

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATe can help states and other jurisdictions create standardized assessments of levels of maternal and neonatal care.

It is based on the most recent guidelines and policy statements issued by the following:

  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  • Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATe process and data usage

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATe process
Process and data usage

Agencies or organizations with existing relationships with hospitals in the area serve as state champions to facilitate the following steps:

Build support for participation

  • Identify collaborators to encourage facilities to use ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATe.
  • Build relationships to work toward statewide participation.

Use tool to collect data

  • Send the ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATe web link to facilities in the state.
  • Follow up with facilities that don't respond.

Analyze data and share results

  • State sends data to ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø.
  • ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø assesses levels of maternal and neonatal care.
  • ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø sends results to state that can be used and shared as desired.

How states can use ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATe data

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATe produces standardized assessments. Participating states can see levels of care by facility and the distribution of staff and services throughout the state.

States can combine data from ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATe with data from other public health sources and analyze it. States can examine how levels of care and volume of services provided by a facility may affect health outcomes.

Who should use ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATe

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATe is designed for public health decision makers. It creates opportunities for informed conversations among partners who work in risk-appropriate care, such as:

The results can be a starting point for talking about how to improve health outcomes for women and infants.

Use of ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATeSM is free.‎

If you are interested in participating in or have questions about ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATe, email [email protected].

Learn more about ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATe and levels of care

from the American Academy of Pediatrics

from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

from the March of Dimes

Service Marks‎

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø LOCATeSM and ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø Levels of Care Assessment ToolSM are service marks of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP); Division of Reproductive Health
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