The Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has awarded a three-year demonstration $3 million grant aimed at reducing birth-related injuries. The grant supports quality improvement and data analysis initiatives.
AHRQ gave the award to Fairview Health Services in Minneapolis makes it possible for the Premier healthcare alliance Prenatal Safety Initiative to extend through June 2013.
The initiative is a national collaborative that is already reducing birth-related injuries. The project seeks to significantly lower the incidence of certain infrequent, though serious, injuries that could result in a wide range of harmful outcomes, including birth asphyxia or permanent neurologic disability. Under the terms of the award, Fairview will provide focused training for high reliability team development through training in TeamSTEPPS and the use of medical simulation.
The initiative also included a supply chain audit by Premier consultants that identified nearly $1.3 million in total potential savings at 11 of the hospitals, an average of nearly $41 per delivery, according to Premier.
“This initiative is achieving improvements through the use of consistent, reliable delivery of care bundles and clinical best practices,” said Stanley Davis, MD, Fairview Health Services, the lead researcher for the demonstration grant phase of the Perinatal Safety Initiative. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to expand upon our learnings as we work to further reduce the incidence of these preventable injuries.”
