Tackling Quality Improvement in the Delivery Room

Implementation of standardized practices in the delivery room fosters a safe environment to ensure that newborn infants are cared for optimally, whether or not they require extensive resuscitation. Quality improvement (QI) is an excellent methodology for implementation of standardized practices due to the multidisciplinary nature of the delivery room, complexity of tasks involved, and opportunities to track processes and outcomes. This article discusses how the delivery room is a unique environment and presents examples on how to approach delivery room QI. Key areas of potential focus for teams pursuing delivery QI include thermal regulation, optimizing respiratory support, and facilitating team communication.