ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Health is working with United Way of Tarrant County to implement a program designed to increase communication and improve patient’s birth experience.

TeamBirth is a model for person-centered birthing care.

“We believe this approach aligns with our strategy of decreasing the cesarean rate in addition to decreasing morbidity and mortality and addressing equity in childbearing patients throughout our facilities,” said Mary Robinson, Ph.D., R.N., NEA-BC, chief nursing executive at Texas Health. “By focusing on a reliable and structured communication and teamwork strategy, we impact safety and the experience of care.”

In January, five Texas Health facilities will be among the first in the state to implement TeamBirth, a model for person-centered birthing care. Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth, Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford are part of what organizers hope will be the first group collaborating with United Way of Tarrant County.

TeamBirth uses a shared planning board in the labor & delivery room to facilitate patient-centered decision making. The planning board is first filled out by a clinical team member and is updated during care team “huddles” throughout labor. Huddles are care plan discussions with the full care team, including the patient and their support person. Interpreters and social workers are also included, as needed.

Data in more than 120 hospitals using TeamBirth shows patients experiencing TeamBirth had a better perception of hospital care, more trust in providers and higher satisfaction in care quality.