Crisis Teams for Obstetric Patients

An obstetric-specific crisis team allows institutions to optimize the care response for patients with emergent maternal or fetal needs. Characteristics of optimal obstetric rapid response teams are team member role designations; streamlined communication; prompt access to resources; ongoing education, rehearsal, and training; and continual team quality analysis. The outcomes must be incorporated into team responses and reinforced in training. Team response provides a key resource to reassure staff, physicians, and patients that prompt crisis care is only a single call away. Data show that team activation is common, improves the care process, and has promise to improve outcomes.