Fetal and infant mortality are important indicators of the health of a community. The Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) is a community-based, action-oriented process to review fetal and infant deaths and make recommendations to spark systemic changes to prevent future similar deaths. The FIMR Case Review Team (CRT) reviews cases to examine medical, non-medical, and systems-related factors and circumstances contributing to fetal and infant deaths on the county level.
Fetal and infant deaths illustrate system and resource issues. Understanding and addressing these deaths in our community can be challenging; however, it is one of the most important things that can be done to improve the overall health of our community. The FIMR Community Action Group (CAG) meets quarterly to develop strategies aimed at reducing the rate of mortality.
Join us in being a “champion for change” by being a part of the FIMR and make meaningful changes to improve services, systems and resources for families, and reduce fetal and infant deaths.
If you would like to join our FIMR CRT or CAG group, please contact our office at info@irchealthstart.org
Click below to see Indian River’s FIMR Annual Report for 2022-2023.
Annual Report
This report presents a comprehensive overview of the findings, insights, and recommendations gathered through our Fetal & Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) process. It incorporates the collaborative work of both our Case Review Team (CRT) and our Community Action Group (CAG).
Together, these teams provide a full picture of the factors contributing to fetal and infant loss in our community, as well as the strategies needed to drive meaningful, data‑informed change.
VIew the Annual ReportFIMR is:
- A strategy to close the gap in health disparities at the community level
- A timely and valuable source of information about changing health care systems and how they affect real families trying to access them
- A form of continuous quality improvement that allows communities to assess the performance of systems and the impact of changes in those systems
- A voice for local families who have lost their baby
- A tool that helps local health officials implement policies to safeguard families
- A program endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau
The Case Review Team (CRT) commits to:
- A one‐time virtual, self‐paced Fetal and Infant Mortality Review training
- A signed Confidentiality Agreement before attending the first meeting
- Confirmation on meeting invites to ensure participants receive the case meeting materials
- One, 2‐3-hour meeting once per month
- Time to review Case Summary Reports prior to monthly meeting (3‐4 cases)
The Community Action Group (CAG) commits to:
The Community Action Group is the “champion for change” that has the political will and resources to develop and implement solutions based on the recommendations from the Case Review Team.
- One, 1‐2-hour meeting once per quarter
- Time and resources to implement an Action Plan created by the team
- CAG may respond to issues that are broad or politically complex and/or may change over time, so time and resources needed to implement change could vary