Quality improvement opportunities for handover practices in birth centres: A case study from a process perspective

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Handovers between healthcare settings significantly impact care quality.
• Healthcare organizations face challenges in ensuring optimal care during patient transitions.
• Effective handovers are critical for maintaining patient safety and continuity of care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate handover practices in Dutch birth centers from a process perspective.
• To identify obstacles and opportunities for improving the quality of care during handovers.
• To provide insights for enhancing inter-organizational collaboration in maternity care.

Main Methods:

• A case study approach was employed in 7 Dutch birth centers.
• Process mapping and direct observations were utilized to analyze handover processes.
• The study was part of the larger Dutch Birth Centre Study.

Main Results:

• Face-to-face communication during handovers was observed in most centers (6/7).
• Formal agreements for client support and electronic health records were present in a minority of centers.
• Continuity of caregiver and postpartum care availability varied across the studied birth centers.

Conclusions:

• A case-specific process approach is essential for ensuring quality during handovers.
• Distinctive aspects, obstacles, and potential solutions for quality improvement in inter-organizational networks were identified.
• Findings are transferable to birth centers internationally, offering a framework for enhancing handover quality.