Regional One Health’s Labor & Delivery Center has implemented a new program called TeamBirth, an industry-standard process that sets specific steps during childbirth designed to support open communication among patients, their support people, nurses and doctors. The program helps ensure every family who delivers at Regional One Health has a safe, positive birth experience that results in a healthy mom and baby.

Maternal fetal medicine physician Kerri Brackney, MD, and clinical nurse specialist Bonnie Miller are spearheading 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,” Dr. Brackney said. “The patient should be the focal point, and we should be the team that supports them.”

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 to safely deliver a baby. Midwives, doulas, and other specialists 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 has a dry erase board that lists everyone on the medical team, the patient’s specific preferences, and an outline of the birth plan.

“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,” said Miller.

The next step is to expand the TeamBirth program to antepartum and postpartum units.

Visit www.regionalonehealth.org/womens-services/labor-and-delivery/

for more information about Regional One Health’s childbirth services.