Lessons Learned From a Gap Analysis of Obstetric Hemorrhage Protocols across a Health System

The United States has experienced a rising incidence of maternal deaths, including those attributable to obstetric hemorrhage (OBH). In response, the National Partnership for Maternal Safety developed a standardized OBH Consensus Bundle with the goal of universal adoption. In 2016 a large western Pennsylvania health system adopted the OBH Consensus Bundle across its 8 obstetrical units, with the goal to improve maternal outcomes.

Gap analysis was used to identify differences between existing OBH protocols and the OBH Consensus Bundle from January to June 2016. Identified gaps as well as existing practices of success were used to systematically develop and implement a standardized system-wide OBH improvement initiative. Hospitals were then categorized by annual birth volume as high (> 2000), medium (500-2000), and low (< 500) with analysis performed across these groups to identify potential trends.

All hospitals had individual successes as well as gaps that were used to direct the system-wide OBH improvement initiative. In some cases, individual plans were tailored to meet hospital resources. When hospitals were compared by annual birth volume, variation existed in their preparedness for, and management of OBH, with the single low-volume hospital having the most gaps.

This gap analysis identified areas for improvement among all hospitals in a health system regardless of annual birth volume. This systematic approach of evaluation of current protocols and identification of improvement targets with implementation strategies may improve maternity outcomes. Additionally, these lessons described may provide a useful framework for other hospitals and health systems as they implement their own safety bundles.