July 10, 2024- Cleveland Clinic has expanded its TeamBirth model to labor and delivery units at main campus, Fairview and Hillcrest hospitals. TeamBirth is a shared decision-making model that focuses on improving communication between caregivers and pregnant patients to bolster safety and quality of care. This follows the success of the program at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, an early U.S. adopter of TeamBirth in 2022.
In the TeamBirth model, the patient’s care team has “huddles” with patients on the birthing units at regular intervals before, during and after delivery to review the patient’s current condition and preferences, and to set clear expectations for what is to come. Whiteboards identifying the patient as the care team leader, the patient’s support person(s), every caregiver on the patient’s team, the patient’s preferences in care, and the agreed-upon care plans and progress for the patient and baby hang in all rooms in the birthing centers.