Fetal-Infant Mortality Review

In 1992, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) received funding from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to develop and implement a Community-Based Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) project. The Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative received a grant to pilot the FIMR model in New Jersey and develop a plan with the DHSS for statewide replication in the other maternal and child health consortia (MCHC). Throughout the ensuing years, other consortia implemented fetal-infant mortality reviews. Using the information and experiences of these consortia, the DHSS has provided the MCHC with funds to implement and/or expand FIMR within their regions. This initiative is called the New Jersey Fetal-Infant Review Program (New Jersey FIMR).

The overall goal of New Jersey FIMR is to establish a statewide system of fetal-infant mortality review by implementing or expanding FIMR projects within each of the six maternal and child health consortia. In order to ensure a process which will allow for coordination of New Jersey FIMR findings from a statewide perspective, the process is implemented uniformly across all projects.

New Jersey FIMR projects:

1. Follow guidelines for planning and implementing community fetal and infant morality reviews developed by the National Fetal-Infant Mortality Review Program (NFIMR).
2. Adhere to policies and procedures developed specifically for New Jersey FIMR as approved by the DHSS Institutional Review Board.
3. Use standardized data collection, entry and reporting methods to ensure consistency of the review process throughout the State. This includes using data abstraction and case review summary forms developed by NFIMR and modified for New Jersey FIMR.
4. Submit information gleaned from local New Jersey FIMR projects to the NJDHSS for a statewide database and inclusion in an annual report.

Remember, FIMR is not about......
fault finding or assigning blame for the death
conducting original research on the causes of infant death

For further information on New Jersey FIMR, contact the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, or the maternal and child health consortium in your area:

New Jersey FIMR Contacts

Elizabeth Ferraro , RN , MSN
State FIMR Coordinator
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
Division of Family Health Services
PO Box 364
Trenton , NJ 08625
609-292-5616
FAX 609-292-3580
Email beth.ferraro@doh.state.nj.us

Marianne Moore
FIMR Coordinator
Hudson Perinatal Consortium, Inc.
242 10 th Street
Jersey City , NJ 07302
201-876-8900
FAX 201-876-2670
Email TRACEYBHPC@aol.com

Kathleen O'Keefe
FIMR Coordinator
Regional Perinatal Consortium of Monmouth & Ocean
1255 Route 70, Suite 31N
Lakewood , NJ 08701
732-363-5400
FAX 732-363-5554
Email ec@rpcmoc.org

Marge Agostino
FIMR Coordinator
Central NJ MCH Consortium
501 Hoes Lane, Suite 206
Piscataway , NJ 08854
732-699-0944
FAX 732-699-1218
Email Mragostino@cnjmchc.org

Marlene Castro , CSW
FIMR Coordinator
Gateway Northwest MCH Consortium
381 Woodside Avenue
Newark , NJ 07104
973-268-2284
FAX 973-268-2283
Email mcastro@gatewaymch.org

Liliana Pinete
FIMR Coordinator
Northern NJ MCH Consortia
17 Arcadian Avenue, Suite 104
Paramus , NJ 07652
201-843-7400
FAX 201-843-4988
Email lpinete@nnjm-chc.org

Judy Stark
FIMR Coordinator
or
Barbara May, RN, BSN
Coordinator Regional Prevention Programs
Southern NJ Perinatal Cooperative
Kevon Office Center , Suite 250
2500 McClellan Blvd.
Pennsauken , NJ -8109-4613
856-665-6000
FAX 856-665-7711
Email jstark@snjpc.org
Email bmay@snjpc.org