Happy New Year!!
& Happy New Projects for 2024
Interested in improving care? TIPQC will be offering three new projects this year! These projects are aimed at improving care for moms, babies and families one project at a time.
Cardiac Conditions in Obstetric Care (Maternal)
Cardiac conditions ae the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths and disproportionately affect non-Hispanic Black people. Nationally, multidisciplinary maternal mortality review committees have found that birthing people who died from cardiac conditions during pregnancy and postpartum were not diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease prior to death. Obstetric complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes are associated with future cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Those with cardiac risk factors and congenital and acquired heart disease require specialized care during pregnancy and postpartum to minimize risk of preventable morbidity and mortality.
TIPQC will implement the ACOG AIM Cardiac Conditions in Obstetric Care Quality Improvement bundle. This project will focus on decreasing Severe Maternal Morbidity Among People with Cardiac Conditions & Decreasing Pregnancy-Related Deaths Due to Cardiac Conditions by 10% across the state by Summer 2026, while improving care for patients with cardiac conditions in hospitals and acute care setting by increasing screening and appropriate referrals for at least 90% of all birthing people thereby reducing NTSV c-sections & reducing preterm rates by 10%.
Tennessee Tiniest Babies Bundle: Prevention of Chronic Lung Disease (NICU)
The TIPQC Prevention of Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) Improvement Project is the second project under the Tennessee Tiniest Babies Bundle with the aim of a 25% relative reduction in chronic lung disease and a 10% relative reduction in Grade 3 Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in infants less than or equal to 29.6 weeks gestational age in participating TN NICUs by June 2025. This project is open to all level 3 and 4 NICUs across the state.
While advances in neonatal care have significantly improved ELBW survival, BPD rates have not improved. Multiple factors contribute to CLD including mechanical ventilation, oxygen toxicity, infection, inflammation, and preventing secondary lung injury. Collectively, improvements in these areas can reduce morbidity and mortality in preterm infants.
In 2020, 1,352 babies, or 1.7% of live births, were born very preterm in Tennessee. Statistically, this group of infants represents approximately one-third of our state’s infant deaths which include disparities amongst racial and ethnic groups. To lower Tennessee’s infant mortality rate, meet the goal as put forth in the “2030 Healthy People” objectives, and improve equity by reducing disparities in care, a collaborative approach to the care along with the implementation of effective care strategies will be realized through this bundle.
Best for All (Joint project)
This project will work to build and develop respectful patient care during the hospital stay for pregnant and birthing people and their newborns. Through understanding of need and identifying areas for improvement, hospitals will integrate respectful patient care, address disparities, integrate social determinants of health screening and referrals, as well as discharge planning into the care plan, thus improving the overall patient experience and reducing disparities.
Participating in the TIPQC Best for All Project will help your facility meet recent requirements and recommendations from CMS, Joint Commission, WHO, ACOG, and AAP. This is a low-cost project that does not require new equipment or skills. It will also have a minimal data collection requirement. This is an ideal project for any birthing institution, nursery, or NICU - whether a larger center which has participated in multiple TIPQC efforts before, or a smaller hospital interested in their first TIPQC project.
