Quality Improvement and Patient Safety on Labor and Delivery

There has been an emphasis on redesigning our health care system to eliminate medical errors and create a culture of safety. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists defines a culture of safety as an environment in which all care providers are empowered to identify errors, near misses, risky behaviors and broader systems issues while engaging in active collaboration to improve and resolve processes and system failures. This article reviews key components that promote a culture of safety and help to implement safer, more effective, evidence-based quality care on labor and delivery units.