Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Coordinated Efforts for OB Patients

For expectant mothers at risk for childbirth complications, the OB assist team at Abington (Pa.) Memorial Hospital is prepared. The 665-bed hospital coordinates care for patients at risk for hemorrhage due to placenta accreta and other conditions. The OB assist team?including trauma surgeons, radiologists, physicians from gynecology, neonatology and oncology, anesthesiologists, OR and labor and delivery nurses, and patient safety officers?assesses cases, reviews film and MRIs and discusses strategy. Evaluation is not limited to accreta but also managing patients with complicated medical issues. Results include decreased length of stay and a decreased number of blood units transfused to patients. And there is a "general overall sense of comfort with these patients, which is something you cannot measure," says Amy M. Mackey, MD, medical director, labor and delivery, and patient safety officer, obstetrics and gynecology. For more information, contact Mackey at amackey@amh.org.