Impact of societal factors and health care delivery systems on gastroschisis outcomes.

Care of infants with gastroschisis is associated with a significant burden on health care delivery systems. Mortality rates in patients with gastroschisis have significantly improved over the past few decades. However, the condition is still associated with significant short-term and potentially long-term morbidity. Significant variations in clinical outcomes and resource utilization may be explained by several factors including provider and hospital experience, level of neonatal intensive care, variations in hospital regionalization of care, and differences in healthcare delivery systems. Reviewing and assessing these hospital and healthcare system related factors are paramount in addressing variations in gastroschisis care and improving outcomes for these vulnerable infants.