Reproductive Health

Perinatal Quality Collaboratives

State Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQCs) are networks of perinatal care providers and public health professionals working to improve pregnancy outcomes for women and newborns by advancing evidence-based clinical practices and processes. PQCs include hospitals, pediatricians and neonatologists, obstetricians and perinatologists, midwives, nurses, and state health department staff.

PQC members identify care processes that need to be improved and use the best available methods to make changes and improve outcomes. State PQCs include key leaders in private, public, and academic health care settings with expertise in evidence-based obstetric and neonatal care and quality improvement.

PQCs address a range of perinatal health issues including elective deliveries before 39 weeks gestation, antenatal steroid use, and hospital-acquired neonatal infections. Many states currently have active collaboratives and others are in development.

PQC Webinar Series 2012–2013

CDC funds statewide PQCs in California, New York, and Ohio and is working with these networks to sponsor a series of Webinars. These Webinars are intended to help PQCs share knowledge and experiences, and teach other states how to start, maintain, and grow their own collaboratives.

Webinars will be held every 2 months. They are available to participants in all states, with a focus on hospitals, physician organizations, and health agencies. Live participation is strongly encouraged to allow effective question-and-answer periods. The Webinars will be recorded and archived on this Web page in the future for people who are unable to attend the live sessions.

Next Webinar

Obstetric Quality Improvement Initiatives

Monday, June 24, 1:00pm-2:30pm Eastern Time

Peter Cherouny, M.D.
Emeritus Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
University of Vermont College of Medicine
Chair, Perinatal Collaborative, Institute for Healthcare Improvement

Jay D. Iams MD
Frederick P. Zuspan Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Obstetrics Lead, Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative

This Webcast will present a discussion of examples of obstetric quality improvement projects undertaken by perinatal quality collaboratives, including project challenges and successes, statewide dissemination, and the role of system design in achieving significant and sustained improvement. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in the discussion.

Objectives:

At the end of this program, participants will be able to—

Identify topics for obstetric quality improvement that are on the horizon.
Discuss how some collaboratives have undertaken obstetric quality improvement projects.
Understand strategies for starting obstetric projects, project maintenance and sustaining achievements.

To register for this event:
1. Go to the URL listed below and choose Web RSVP under Join Events.
2. Provide your information for the event leader and then click submit.
3. You will receive a passcode and PIN to access the audio portion of the webinar. This information will be required to ensure entry.

URL: https://www.mymeetings.com/emeet/rsvp/index.jsp?customHeader=mymeetings&Conference_ID=1188042&passcode=5539915
Webinar participation on the day of the event:

To join the Web portion, click on : https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PW1188042&p=5539915&t=c

To join the audio portion, dial 1-800-369-3188 (toll free).

Enter the passcode and PIN that you received in your registration confirmation.
If you did not register and do not have a PIN, enter the passcode 5539915 and hold for an operator. NOTE: there is a lengthy hold time, during which you will be asked for your PIN multiple times before being rerouted. You may still be able to join the Webinar, if space is available.

Future Webinars

August 2013: Examples of Neonatal Initiatives

Archived Webinars

View-on-demand recorded PQC Webinars from our archives.

Building and Sustaining a Collaborative

April 25, 2013

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This Webcast presented a discussion of how to build and sustain a perinatal quality collaborative, including establishing an expert workgroup, communication strategies, and past experience and challenges with funding PQC efforts. It concludes with participant questions about how the collaboratives in the presenters’ states have applied these principles to their projects.

Perinatal Performance Measures and Data Collection

February 27, 2013

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This Webcast discusses perinatal performance measures including identifying and choosing measures, data collection sources, and real-time data feedback systems. It concludes with participant questions about how California’s collaboratives have applied these principles to their projects.

Quality Improvement Principles and Getting Started

December 11, 2012

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This Webcast presents an overview of core Quality Improvement Principles as applied to improving the quality of perinatal and maternal care. It includes a discussion of the Model for Improvement, topic selection, and identifying measurable changes that can be tested. It concludes with participant questions about how collaboratives in the presenters' states have applied these principles to their projects.

Perinatal Quality Collaboratives 101

October 15, 2012

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This Webcast presents an overview of Quality Improvement in perinatal and maternal care. It includes information about the purpose, basic structure, and past successes of collaboratives. It concludes with participant questions about how state-based collaborative efforts have led to quality improvements in the presenters' states and how these PQCs function.

For more information about the Webinars, please contact us at drhinfo@cdc.gov