[Early discharge from the maternity ward: telephone survey about the availability of private-practice and public health pediatricians in Ile-de-France].

OBJECTIVES

To assess the possibility and time period within which a mother and her newborn can consult a pediatrician after their early discharge from the maternity ward.

METHODS

In May 2004, 2 investigators presenting themselves as mothers just discharged from the maternity ward, called pediatricians' offices and public infant cliniques (PMI centers) in the Paris metropolitan region, to request appointments.

RESULTS

Of 99 pediatricians' offices contacted, 89 (89%) offered appointments, for an average of 4.4 days later. Of the 93 PMI centers contacted, 55 (59%) offered appointments by telephone, with a mean waiting time of 18 days.

CONCLUSION

This study, conducted in the spring of 2004 in the Paris metropolitan region, showed that private-practice pediatricians are capable of taking over management of newborns rapidly after early discharge from the maternity ward. It is more difficult to make appointments by telephone with PMI centers, which operate differently, and the delay is substantially longer. We underline that these results observed in a region with a high density of pediatricians and during a favourable period for managing appointments. Further studies are needed in other regions and at different periods. The management of newborns after early discharge from the maternity ward should be actually throught the arising development of health networks.