Initiative Reduces Adverse Obstetrical Outcomes, Improves Perceptions of Safety

A comprehensive perinatal safety initiative can significantly reduce adverse obstetric outcomes, improve patient safety, and enhance staff and patient experiences, according to the results of a study published in the January/February 2012 Journal for Healthcare Quality. The initiative, which was incrementally introduced from August 2007 to July 2009 at a large tertiary medical center, significantly reduced the facility’s obstetrical adverse outcome index from 2% to 0.8% within a year. The facility was able to maintain this reduction for the two-year duration of the study.