Perinatal Transitions Program

Perinatal Transitions is a Quality Improvement program aimed to improve transfers between planned out-of-hospital births and hospital care. The Perinatal Transitions Program is a continuation of and extension on the CDC’s Best Practice Recommendations for increasing communication between out-of-hospital providers and in-hospital providers during a transition of care. The Perinatal Transitions Collaborative is comprised of EMS providers, hospital providers, out-of-hospital providers, and associated staffs. (Would you like to join the Perinatal Transitions Collaborative? Contact us here.)

Our mission is to promote greater patient safety and satisfaction; focusing on the transition between planned out-of-hospital birth and hospital care. 

Our goals are: improving the safety and efficiency of the transfer process through the establishment of system-wide protocols, collecting and analyzing transfer outcome data for the purpose of quality improvement, building greater collaboration between out-of-hospital birth providers, EMS, and hospital care teams, as well as of course enhancing the patient experience of care when transfers occur.

What we are seeing happen with the implementation of programs like this across the nation, are that transfers are smoother for providers (both in-hospital and out) and transfers are smoother for patients. 

Why now?

Perinatal transfers of care from home and birth centers are not common, but they are often the only times out-of-hospital providers directly engage with transport providers and hospital providers. The vast majority of the time, out-of-hospital providers stay in home and birth center settings providing exceptional care for low-risk clients and paths never cross. That being said, when perinatal complications arise and hospital care becomes necessary, it’s remains clear that we’re all after the same goal: safety, better outcomes, and positive patient experiences. 

Planned out-of-hospital birth is rising. In addition, as hospital closures and labor and delivery deferments occur statewide, states continue to combat an overwhelmed medical system along with a provider shortage. Out-of-hospital practitioners are filling gaps in care, affording patients the opportunity to stay within their communities for care, and providing some relief to presently over taxed hospital systems. 

Who are out-of-hospital providers?

State Vital records reports that there are a multitude of practitioners offering out-of-hospital birth including DOs, NDs, CMs, CNMs, and CPMs.

What is the Perinatal Transitions Program?

The Perinatal Transitions Program offers streamlined contact reference for level of care in transfers from outside of a hospital to in a hospital. 

We also offer simple transfer of care documentation forms, for those looking to expand upon the state/s Best Transport Practices Guidelines that may already be in place, as well as offering a way participate in data collection. 

We’re offering easy access to coordinated debriefing of any transfers of care from any level. These can exist with third party moderation and occur on any level of engagement, be it written, virtual, or in person.