Page 9 - OB Risks - Delivering the Goods (Part One)

SVMIC Obstetrics Risks: Delivering the Goods

PART ONE

Introduction

This risk management education course is designed to assist

with your efforts to mitigate preventable risk management
issues in obstetrics, often resulting in increased morbidity

and mortality, and to improve patient quality of care and
health outcomes. The obstetric physician faces many unique

challenges when responding to the rapidly changing healthcare
requirements of both mother and developing fetus. For many

women, pregnancy is an exciting but also a very stressful and
emotional time requiring obstetricians to be aware of rapidly

changing physical as well as mental healthcare needs.

The practice of obstetrics is a specialty highly dependent

on a team approach to care. Providing comprehensive care

through the prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum phases
requires a collaborative relationship among a variety of health
professionals, including physicians, certified nurse midwives,

nurses, mental health providers, maternity educators, and social

workers.

The practice of medicine provides a wide range of options

available to the treating physician, in most specialties. However,
in obstetrics, there are generally shared common standards

of care, particularly associated with routine tests and imaging
as outlined in specialty society guidelines. In order to optimize

adherence and reduce liability risks, we will discuss the
importance of shared decision-making with the mother. We

will review many of the most common risk management issues

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