Risk-Guided Personalized Care to Prevent Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Real-World Implementation Study

Background/Objectives: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a major morbidity among extremely premature infants, with variability in the application of evidence-based interventions between and within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). We evaluated a multi-component, risk-guided personalized implementation strategy for BPD prevention in a real-world setting. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of infants <29 weeks’ gestation at birth admitted to a quaternary NICU. The intervention combined risk stratification and structured longitudinal care planning rounds (LCPRs) that included standardized documentation, multidisciplinary facilitation, and associated continuous quality improvement strategies. Implementation outcomes were assessed using the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Secondary outcomes included care processes, provider-reported measures, and exploratory clinical outcomes. Results: Over six months, 41 infants were included. Risk stratification was consistently applied and all fifteen high-risk infants received LCPR, demonstrating targeted reach. Multidisciplinary participation was broad, with implementation fidelity reflected by consistent screening, structured documentation, and timely care plan execution. Practice standardization was observed, including consistent corticosteroid use (100%), earlier initiation of systemic postnatal steroids (median 16 days), and selective adjunctive therapy use. Providers reported improved teamwork, care coordination, and confidence. Rates of BPD or mortality were comparable between higher-risk infants receiving LCPR and lower-risk infants, despite greater illness severity in the LCPR group. Respiratory severity scores showed a downward trend after implementation, though this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.07). Strategy use continued beyond the study period indicating early sustainability. Conclusions: A multi-component, risk-guided implementation strategy can be effectively integrated into routine NICU practice, improving care processes while maintaining clinical outcomes in high-risk infants compared with lower-risk infants.