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Years Active: 2013-2014

Antenatal

Steroids

PROJECT AIM:

To use a collaborative quality improvement approach to improve the rate of antenatal steroid therapy initiation for patients delivering between 24 0/7 completed weeks gestation and 31 6/7 weeks in Tennessee. Baseline data will be collected to systematically identify missed opportunities to implement this evidence based practice, and potentially better practices will be introduced by participants with a goal of reducing the missed antenatal steroid initiation rate by 20% by the 2015 TIPQC statewide meeting. (Jackson TN, November 25, 2013)

From 2008-2012, Tennessee data from the Vermont-Oxford network suggested a potential opportunity to improve neonatal outcomes following premature birth by systematically improving the utilization of maternal antenatal corticosteroids in Tennessee. The introduction of the Joint Commission’s Perinatal Core Measure 3, Antenatal Corticosteroid Utilization (TJC PC-03), provided a ready outcome measure for Tennessee Hospitals to collaboratively evaluate and improve their policies and practices on administration of antenatal corticosteroids. The maternal arm of TIPQC under the leadership of Bobby Howard, MD reviewed evidence from ACOG and the CPQCC Antenatal Steroid Project Toolkit, and kicked-off a statewide project in January 2014.

Active Participating

Hospital Teams

  • Erlanger Health System
  • Jackson-Madison County General Hospital
  • Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare – Germantown
    Regional One Health
  • Saint Francis Hospital – Memphis
  • The University of Tennessee Medical Center
  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center

State Project Leader

Bobby Howard, MD from University of Tennessee led this project statewide.

Get

Involved.

TIPQC is actively recruiting devoted health care professionals, community leaders and patient and family partners to further our mission of improving health outcomes for mothers and babies in Tennessee.

Learn How