By Linda Burke-Galloway, MD, MS, FACOG (Author/Blogger, “The Smart Mother’s Guide to a Better Pregnancy”)
The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health and Safety (PPAHS) joined hundreds of other impassioned attendees in Orlando, Florida to attend the 16th Annual NPSF Patient Safety Class from May 14 through May 16, 2014. Over 50 research posters were presented and PPAHS’ poster on the OB VTE Safety Recommendations was one of them.
The OB VTE Safety Recommendations poster was extremely popular and more than 100 poster facsimiles were distributed at the NPSF Congress. Many of the interested parties represented labor and delivery nurse managers from individual hospital and hospital systems as well as insurance companies who provide coverage for obstetrical patients. The attendees were happy to see a formal protocol that identified patients with risk factors and a checklist of necessary steps and procedures. Some of the labor and delivery nurse managers wanted to know exactly who had developed the model and who had implemented the practice recommendations.
Although it was gratifying to see such a profound interest among hospitals and insurance industries, the successful implementation of the model as a future best practice can only be achieved with the cooperation and engagement of patient participation. It might therefore be feasible to conduct patient simulations of the model in the future as well as public service announcement campaigns as a form of patient education, awareness and advocacy. This would be important in light of the recent study that states the risk of developing VTE can occur for up to 12 weeks after the birth of a baby.
The presence and contribution of PPAHS at the Annual NPSF Congress will hopefully have an indelible effect on improving the quality and safety of pregnant women as well as reducing adverse outcomes.