A Multidisciplinary Team Approach to Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage

Poster PresentationPurpose for the ProgramThis hospital is a teaching facility with a diverse population of families. It is the only free‐standing women's hospital in the state and averages 6200 births per year. Despite being a groundbreaker in many ways, the rate of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) was almost equal to the state and national averages. There was no standardized approach to the management of PPH, and with an increasing urgency to improve PPH outcomes, the nursing staff made the decision to make a change. The goals were to develop a PPH protocol, decrease the rate of PPH‐related transfusions, and decrease the number of PPH‐related adverse outcomes such as peripartum hysterectomies. When any of these events occur, often the length of stay increases as well.Proposed ChangeTo implement a culture of safety and enhance interdepartmental teamwork. A team approach was needed to develop and utilize a standardized protocol. Although historically physicians and nurses did not participate in education together, educating all members of the health care team at the same time was essential.Implementation, Outcomes, and EvaluationA focused, multidisciplinary team representing every clinical department in the hospital formed a PPH committee and was facilitated by nursing staff. Each member of the team took ownership by using the plan, do, check, act (PDCA) quality improvement methodology. The protocol was developed; didactic learning and 87 simulation classes took place with p...
Source: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: Childbearing Source Type: research