​​​Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Program​

Goal

The goal of the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Program is to prevent infant mortality and morbidity through the review of fetal and infant deaths in Maryland. The FIMR process is used as a 'warning system' and method for improving birth outcomes and systems of care surrounding pregnancy, childbirth and infancy. FIMR assesses how infant morbidity and mortality occurs in local communities and creates an action-oriented process for change. FIMR offers communities a way to discover unmet needs to improve the health of mothers and infants. FIMR is an action-oriented community process that continually assesses, monitors, and works to improve service systems and community resources for women, infants, and families. A fetal or infant death to a community resident is the event that begins the process.​

Background

The National Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Program (NFIMR) was a collaborative effort between the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration to address the rate of infant and fetal deaths. The Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Program began in Maryland in 1997. 


The National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention (CRFP) is funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration as a resource and data center for state and local Child Death Review (CDR) and Fetal and Infant Mortality (FIMR) programs around the country. It promotes, supports and enhances child death review methodology and activities at the state, community and national levels.

 Updated 6/2020