title: Simulation in maternal-fetal medicine: making a case for the need.
abstract: Medical error remains a cause for concern in obstetrics. Studies have shown that the most important contributing factors to adverse events in obstetrics often relate to poor teamwork and ineffective communication. A potential solution to these problems includes transforming institutions, obstetric departments, and maternal-fetal medicine divisions into high-reliability organizations. Simulation is a valuable tool which can be utilized, in obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine, as an integral part of programs designed to advance knowledge and technical skills; improve communication and team function; and identify and correct systems issues. Simulation should be an integral part of our journey towards high reliability with the ultimate goal of improving patient safety and quality of care in obstetrics.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, 1825 Eastchester Rd, Bronx, NY, USA. dgoffman@montefiore.org
authors.forename: Dena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goffman
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colleen
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bernstein
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003142:Communication; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003657:Decision Making; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D016544:Patient Simulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014481:United States