Regional One Health’s Labor & Delivery team is implementing a new set of standards called “TeamBirth” to enhance communication between providers and patients.
The goal of “TeamBirth” is to put the patient at the center of their care and make them an active, respected participant in decision-making.
By making sure every patient’s wishes are heard, Regional One Health looks forward to providing a safe, positive and empowering birthing experience.
Every family deserves a safe, positive birth experience with the goal of a healthy mom and baby – and a new program at Regional One Health aims to achieve that with enhanced communication and patient-centered care.
Maternal Fetal Medicine physician Kerri Brackney, MD, FACOG and clinical nurse specialist Bonnie Miller are spearheading “TeamBirth,” an evidence-based program that sets specific steps to improve communication between everyone involved in the birth experience.
Regional One Health recently hosted a training session for its labor & delivery team and doctors and nurses from other area hospitals.
“The goal is to involve patients in their own care, give them a voice, and really put them in the center of it all,” Dr. Brackney said. “The patient should be the focal point, and we should be the team that supports them.”
Miller added, “Our patient is our quarterback and the core of our team, and they make the decisions. Their physician and nurses are their teammates, and we give them the evidence-based information they need to make the best decision that fits their preferences.”
Dr. Kerri Brackney is helping spearhead TeamBirth. “The goal is to involve patients in their own care, give them a voice, and really put them in the center of it all,” she said.
The TeamBirth program will debut in Regional One Health’s Labor & Delivery Center in late July and ultimately expand to antepartum and postpartum units.
There are two key components to TeamBirth: communication huddles and a planning board in each patient’s room.
“During the huddles, the patient and their support people, nurse, provider and other key players talk about decisions that need to be made at that point in the patient’s care,” Dr. Brackney said. “Anybody on the team can call a huddle at any point, including the patient.”
The first huddle occurs soon after the patient is admitted. The team discusses the patient’s goals and preferences, develops a plan for the birth, and makes sure everyone is on the same page.
After that, huddles take place by request or whenever there is a big decision to make. For example, the medical team could call for a huddle if they need to consider a Cesarean section or the use of forceps or a vacuum to safely facilitate birth.
Midwives, doulas, social workers, interpreters, etc. can all be brought into the huddle as needed.
The second component of TeamBirth, the planning board, is also aimed at communication. Each patient room will have a dry erase board that lists everyone on the medical team, the patient’s specific preferences, an outline of the next steps for mom, baby, and labor, and the time of the next huddle.
Miller said the huddles and planning board help the team talk through any issues that arise during childbirth. “If the patient has concerns about something or they want to do something that is against our medical advice, we provide education. We talk about it in a way they can understand, without all the medical lingo, so they can make a safe decision,” she said.
TeamBirth looks to improve communication through regular huddles featuring the patient, their support people, and their providers. Each room will also have an information board to list the patient’s birth plan, preferences, and other important information.
For example, if a patient wants to walk or shower during labor, the medical team might suggest first monitoring the baby for 20 minutes while the patient remains in bed. They explain how that ensures the baby’s safety while still letting the patient get out of bed if everything looks good.
While the most direct goal of TeamBirth is to create a positive birth experience, the program can also contribute to the larger goal of reducing maternal mortality rates.
“Maternal mortality is unacceptably high in our country, particularly for our Black patients,” Dr. Brackney said. “Giving patients a stronger voice empowers them to speak up if they’re worried about something. By showing patients we respect them and want to hear their concerns, we show them they can speak up and be respected. If they’re scared to speak up, that can be dangerous.”
“As a patient, if you know someone is listening and asking what you want, you’re more likely to advocate for yourself and your child,” Miller added. “This helps us keep patients safer, decreases miscommunication, and decreases PTSD associated with negative birth experiences.”
That is the experience they want for every patient who delivers at Regional One Health.
“Everyone on the team will be trained on this protocol, and it will be our expectation for every patient we care for,” Miller said. “The whole point is to say, ‘We hear you, we understand, and we’ll give you all the information you need to make the best choice for you and your baby.’”