St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center Recognized for Efforts to Improve Outcomes for Oklahoma Mothers and Babies
The Oklahoma Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (OPQIC) recognized eight hospitals that are creating a culture of excellence in perinatal care for Oklahoma mothers and newborns. The Spotlight Hospital Awards were presented at the seventh annual summit on October 2. Approximately 200 providers of maternal and infant care joined the virtual event to acknowledge and celebrate efforts to improve outcomes for Oklahoma mothers and babies.
Hospitals receiving the Spotlight Hospital Awards were recognized for participation and sustained improvement in the areas of early elective deliveries (inducing labor and scheduling cesarean births before 39 weeks without a medical reason), education to prevent abusive head trauma (commonly known as shaken baby syndrome), modeling and promoting safe sleep practices, accurate newborn screening, creating an environment that is supportive of best practices in maternity care and breastfeeding, and being prepared for obstetrical emergencies (such as hemorrhage and preeclampsia) through training, guidelines and hospital resources.
Hospitals receiving Spotlight Hospital Awards for 2020 are: Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Lawton; Duncan Regional Hospital; INTEGRIS Canadian Valley Hospital, Yukon; Lakeside Women’s Hospital, Oklahoma City; Mercy Hospital, Oklahoma City; Norman Regional HealthPlex, Norman; St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Enid and The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center, Oklahoma City.
“We are proud to be recognized for the third consecutive year,” says Krista Roberts, CEO at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. “We celebrate our BirthPlace team, under the leadership of Malinda Isbell, RNC-OB, BSN, and Chris Lee, DO, for achieving this award as a result of their continued focus on safe perinatal care,” she says.
OPQIC works with Oklahoma birthing hospitals and perinatal care providers of all types to improve perinatal care of Oklahoma mothers and newborns by collaborating with partners to identify and remove barriers to providing quality perinatal care with a focus on safety. Since these initiatives have begun, Oklahoma’s infant mortality and severe maternal illness rate have both decreased by approximately 20 percent.
Partners in OPQIC include: Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Oklahoma Hospital Association, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Departments of OB/GYN and Pediatrics, Oklahoma birthing hospitals and others.