The nurses, physicians and midwives of the Labour and Delivery Unit at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre are pleased to announce the launch of the 'MORE OB' Program. Managing Obstetrical Risks Efficiently is a comprehensive program that promotes patient safety, quality improvement, and professional development. This program, designed and supported by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, offers the opportunity to improve on current practice by establishing a common knowledge base, improving clinical skills by drills and practice, and empowering all team members to enter the decision making process.

The 'MORE OB' Program at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre involves a multi-disciplinary team of obstetrical care providers. The TBRHSC obstetrical care team includes obstetricians, family physicians, nurses, midwives, anesthesiologists, managers, senior hospital administration and risk management representatives. Traditionally, Obstetrical units are composed of care providers who have been educated within their own professional programs. By learning together through the 'MORE OB' Program, care providers develop a shared knowledge base and a common language that will foster clear communication and efficient management of obstetrical risks. The multi-disciplinary obstetrical teams will become more cohesive, enabling a safe, family centered model of practice and a climate of mutual respect and reflective learning.

The core content is evidence-based and is updated annually. Ultimately, this will create a better work environment and through the use of event analysis, we will learn from past experiences to promote a culture of patient safety.

The 'MORE OB' Program empowers change:
 

• by identifying, then implementing necessary changes focusing on processes not people
• by breaking through hierarchal barriers which presently exist
• by increasing confidence in the management of labour and delivery
• because life is valuable and one loss is one too many
• because we can improve on our current level of safety

'MORE OB' - We all owe our patients the highest level of safety and must take ownership of the means to do so.

Photo L-R: Midwife Ms. Barb Kemeny, Brenda Dubois & son, Shanni Valley RN, Dr. H. Fairley, Dr. G. Derbyshire

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