Induction of labour: a continuous quality improvement and peer review program to improve the quality of care.
This article describes a program developed to improve the process of planned induction of labour and to reduce the rates of inappropriate induction. The setting is a tertiary-care maternity hospital in urban Vancouver, BC, in which 7000 deliveries take place annually. Approximately 65% of these can be considered primary care; the remainder are secondary- or tertiary-level cases. Continuous quality improvement (CQI) methods were used by a multidisciplinary team, which included nursing staff, physicians, health records personnel and a CQI facilitator. Interventions included the development of a new induction-booking process, clear criteria for induction, feedback to caregivers about changes and a peer review system to oversee and maintain improvement. The overall induction rate for the institution decreased, and this change has been maintained.
Harris
S
S
Birthing Program, British Columbia's Women's Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver. sharris@cw.bc.ca
Buchinski
B
B
Grzybowski
S
S
Janssen
P
P
Mitchell
G W
GW
Farquharson
D
D
Gryzbowski
S
S
D001955:British Columbia; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000639:trends; D010380:Peer Review; D011247:Pregnancy; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000639:trends