@article{8409, author = {Christian M. Pettker and Stephen F. Thung and Errol R. Norwitz and Catalin S. Buhimschi and Cheryl A. Raab and Joshua A. Copel and Edward Kuczynski and Charles J. Lockwood and Edmund F. Funai}, title = {Impact of a comprehensive patient safety strategy on obstetric adverse events.}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: We implemented a comprehensive strategy to track and reduce adverse events.

STUDY DESIGN: We incrementally introduced multiple patient safety interventions from September 2004 through November 2006 at a university-based obstetrics service. This initiative included outside expert review, protocol standardization, the creation of a patient safety nurse position and patient safety committee, and training in team skills and fetal heart monitoring interpretation. We prospectively tracked 10 obstetrics-specific outcome. The Adverse Outcome Index, an expression of the number of deliveries with at least 1 of the 10 adverse outcomes per total deliveries, was analyzed for trend.

RESULTS: Our interventions significantly reduced the Adverse Outcome Index (linear regression, r(2) = 0.50; P = .01) (overall mean, 2.50%). Concurrent with these improvements, we saw clinically significant improvements in safety climate as measured by validated safety attitude surveys.

CONCLUSION: A systematic strategy to decrease obstetric adverse events can have a significant impact on patient safety.

}, year = {2009}, journal = {Am J Obstet Gynecol}, volume = {200}, pages = {492.e1-8}, month = {05/2009}, issn = {1097-6868}, doi = {10.1016/j.ajog.2009.01.022}, language = {eng}, }