Elimination of admission hypothermia in preterm very low-birth-weight infants by standardization of delivery room management.

Context: Temperature instability is a serious but potentially preventable morbidity in preterm infants. Admission temperatures below 36°C are associated with increased mortality and late onset sepsis.

Objective: The goal of our quality-improvement effort was to increase preterm infants' admission temperatures to above 36°C by preventing heat loss in the immediate postnatal period.