The last thing that should be on the mind of a woman going into labor is whether her weekend, holiday, or nighttime delivery is putting her and her baby at a greater risk of negative health outcomes. While adverse events in the labor and delivery unit can happen at any time, studies have confirmed there is a “weekend effect” in maternal care. Delivery complications occur at a higher rate during night shifts, weekends and holidays, when hospitals are understaffed and doctors with less experience are more likely to be working.
OBHG’s Vice President of Risk, Quality, and Compliance, Heather Moore, recently published an article in Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare looking at this trend and the risks that it poses for health providers and hospitals.
The article explores the use of OB hospitalists as an evidence-based solution to ensure that patients receive the highest standard of care—regardless of when they arrive in the labor and delivery unit. Read the full article to learn more about the weekend effect and the the effectiveness of an OB hospitalist program on improving patient health outcomes.