Collaborative Approaches in the Emergency Department for Maternity Patients

The unique physiology of the pregnant and postpartum patient, along with the challenges of the emergency department setting, may increase the risk factors for preventable harm in highly complex care situations. Communication, following standardized processes, and reviewing maternal events to identify improvements are vital to minimize the risk of patient safety events and improve patient care outcomes for pregnant and postpartum patients in the emergency department setting. Implementing a standardized debriefing process will help reduce anxiety about discussing adverse events by making it a formula clinicians can follow and provide valuable real-time insight into barriers and resource needs. Two case studies of pregnant patients who presented to the emergency department at a level 2 trauma center highlight how the debriefing process improved maternity care and helped prevent future safety events. It is the goal that the lessons learned can provide insight to refine processes and improve safety throughout the continuum of care for mothers and babies.