title: Development of an obstetric vital sign alert to improve outcomes in acute care obstetrics.
abstract: Maternal morbidity and mortality is a national health problem. Causal analysis of near-miss and actual serious patient safety events, including those resulting in maternal death, within obstetric units often highlights a failure to promptly recognize and treat women who were exhibiting signs of decompensation/deterioration. The Obstetric Vital Sign Alert (OBVSA) is an early warning tool that leverages discrete data points in the electronic health record, calculating a risk score that is displayed as a visual cue for acute care obstetric staff. When studied in a cohort of women with postpartum hemorrhage, use of the OBVSA reduced symptom-to-response time and intervention time, as well as key process and outcome measures.
authors.forename: Diana J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Behling
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Renaud
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000379:methods*; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D055986:Vital Signs
keywords: early warning; maternal morbidity; maternal mortality; obstetric emergency; obstetric vital sign alert; postpartum hemorrhage