Many medical facilities, both in Texas and around the country, are constantly
striving to improve their standards of patient care. This is generally
great news for patients and their loved ones, as preventable incidents,
such as birth injuries, can cause untold amounts of trauma and tragedy.
Fortunately, recent news indicates that proactive measures really do make
a difference in patient safety. According to a recent report, initiatives
regarding safety in childbirth have yielded positive and promising results.
The report mentions the success stories of several entities, including
Ascension Health, which managed to cut its neonatal fatality rate nearly
in half across the span of the initiative. Premier, Inc. achieved a dramatic
drop – almost 75 percent – in birth trauma, while another hospital tackled
its rate of brain injuries caused by the deprivation of oxygen. Finally,
Hospital Corporation of America saw its pulmonary embolism-caused maternal
death rates plummet by over 85 percent.
How did these hospitals and corporations achieve such safety successes?
Interestingly, their methods proved to be largely basic and consistent
across the different hospitals. Some of the approaches included avoiding
errors in communication, which tend to be responsible for a large percentage
of birth injuries, and increased care with regard to deciding on a cesarean
section. Other successful measures included simulations for emergency
situations and measurements of compliance with best practices in high-risk
situations.
While such practices give much cause for optimism, they are surprisingly
not adopted uniformly across hospitals. According to the American Congress
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the adoption of these practices varies
across the nation. Whether or not they have been adopted at a particular
facility, expecting mothers and their babies may still encounter a negligent
doctor or other medical professional. Those who have may be entitled to
significant compensation for injuries and medical expenses; a Houston
malpractice attorney can provide further information.