TeamBirth will move us closer to that goal by fostering teamwork and communication among physicians, nurses, staff, and the person giving birth so that our patients feel heard and supported from the moment they walk into the hospital.
Ella A. Damiano, MDThis month, Dartmouth Health will officially implement TeamBirth at its member hospitals with labor and delivery services. This patient-centered care model, which supports open communication among patients, their support people, and clinicians during childbirth, rolled out at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) on March 4, with Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) and Cheshire Medical Center to follow later in March.
Developed by Ariadne Labs, the TeamBirth model empowers patients to take an active role in their care throughout their stay for labor, delivery and recovery. A Joint Commission study found that failures in communication between providers and patients account for up to 90% of preventable injuries during childbirth. This coincides with a rising U.S. maternal mortality rate in recent decades: women giving birth today are 50% more likely to die during childbirth than their own mothers, with these rates being at least three times higher among Black and Indigenous women.
“At Dartmouth Health, we want all people giving birth and the clinicians who care for them to feel empowered to participate in decisions made during labor and delivery,” said DHMC obstetrician-gynecologist Ella A. Damiano, MD. “TeamBirth will move us closer to that goal by fostering teamwork and communication among physicians, nurses, staff, and the person giving birth so that our patients feel heard and supported from the moment they walk into the hospital.”
DHMC, SVMC and Cheshire join nearly 300 other hospitals and birth facilities nationwide who have adopted TeamBirth. In one trial of the care model, 90% of clinicians said they would recommend TeamBirth, and 96% of patients said their preferences made a difference in the care they received.
“All people who give birth deserve to have a safe, dignified experience,” said Amber Weiseth, DNP, MSN, RNC-OB, director of TeamBirth at Ariadne Labs. “TeamBirth is an evidence-based approach to turn this vision into a reality.”
Learn more about TeamBirth at ariadnelabs.org/delivery-decisions-initiative/teambirth.
About Cheshire Medical Center
Cheshire Medical Center (Cheshire) advances the health and wellness of individuals across New Hampshire’s Monadnock Region through outstanding care and exceptional service. Cheshire teams deliver an impressive range of clinical services that support the community's needs. As a member of Dartmouth Health, Cheshire is able to provide services far exceeding those of a typical rural hospital, including extensive programs in primary care, cancer care, cardiology, orthopaedics, and public health. Cheshire patients are also able to access hundreds of highly trained specialists and a depth of clinical and technical resources through its collaboration with Dartmouth Health. Cheshire’s clinical practice is distinguished by an exceptional staff, a strong commitment to safety and quality, and a culture that values the contribution of every staff member and volunteer. Cheshire is the area's largest healthcare provider and leading employer. Along with the services delivered on their Keene campus and satellite locations, the Medical Center partners with local organizations to provide vital services and programs throughout the region. To learn more, call 603-354-5400 or visit cheshiremed.org.
About Dartmouth Health
Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire’s only academic health system and largest private employer, serves patients across New England. Dartmouth Health provides access to more than 2,300 providers in nearly every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH. Its network of hospitals, outpatient centers, clinics and home care facilities, spans a broad geographical area. Year after year, DHMC is named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and is consistently recognized for high performance in numerous clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth Health includes Dartmouth Cancer Center, northern New England’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and one of less than than 60 total nationally; Dartmouth Health Children’s, which includes the state’s only children’s hospital (Children’s Hospital at DHMC/CHaD) and more than 20 locations around the region; eight member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene, Claremont, Hampstead, and New London, NH, and Windsor and Bennington, VT; Dartmouth Health Home Care; Dartmouth Health Connected Care Center for Telehealth, serving patients as far away as Texas; and more than 30 primary and multi-specialty clinics across New Hampshire and Vermont. Through its partnership with Dartmouth College, Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine and the White River Junction VA Medical Center, Dartmouth Health trains nearly 400 medical residents and fellows annually and performs cutting-edge research and clinical trials with international impact. Dartmouth Health and its more than 16,000 employees are committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in the communities it serves and to providing every patient with exceptional, state-of-the-art, personalized care. Learn more at dartmouth-health.org.