Nine months is the magic time--for the healthiest start in life for West Virginia’s babies and for the Elective Delivery Quality Collaborative to reduce the number of medically unnecessary preterm C-section deliveries. “West Virginia, like the rest of the country, is seeing a rise in the numbers of babies that were delivered via C-section operations at less that 39 weeks and without documented medical risk factors for the mother and for the baby,” explained Sonia Chambers. “These births are scheduled convenience which often puts both mother and babies at increased risk on many levels. We set out to change this trend In West Virginia.” Elective pre-term delivery is not supported by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The Collaborative partnered with fifteen hospitals, which represents 70 percent of the births in the state.
The rate of elective pre-term deliveries, performed without documented medical necessity, decreased from more than 21 percent of total births in January 2009 to 8.5 percent in August 2009.
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Using a proven methodology developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the Collaborative:
• Used evidence-based change packages that facilitated easy to implement opportunities for improvement;
• Structured monthly reporting on a common core set of measures;
• Provided technical assistance from expert faculty and subject matter sources;
• Incorporated Web-based technology for communication and shared learning; and
• Offered teleconference and in-person learning options to accelerate learning and the adoption of change.
Collaborative Partners
Bluefield Regional Medical Center
Cabell Huntington Hospital
Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital
Charleston Area Medical Center
Greenbrier Valley Medical Center
Monongalia General Hospital
Ohio Valley Medical Center
Princeton Community Hospital
Raleigh General Hospital
Reynolds Memorial Hospital
St. Joseph’s Hospital of Buckhannon
St. Mary’s Medical Center
Thomas Memorial Hospital
Weirton Medical Center
West Virginia University Hospital
March of Dimes West Virginia Chapter
West Virginia Health Improvement Institute
West Virginia Perinatal Partnership - For more information visit
www.wvperinatal.org