MultiCare birth centers launch initiative to elevate birth experience

Labor and delivery experiences are unique, but every expectant parent deserves to play an active role in welcoming their little one into the world. In 2024, three MultiCare hospitals launched TeamBirth, an initiative that seeks to enhance communication, teamwork and shared decision-making throughout the childbirth experience.

TeamBirth, developed by Ariadne Labs — a joint center for health systems innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health — is an industry-standard process that prioritizes safety, equity and dignity in childbirth.

The Washington State Hospital Association has collaborated with Ariadne Labs to roll out the initiative statewide in four cohorts. Birth centers at MultiCare Capital Medical Center, MultiCare Deaconess Hospital and MultiCare Valley Hospital were part of cohort three.

Enhancing communication, improving outcomes

One of the core ways TeamBirth sets out to improve communication is with regular shared huddles. These huddles bring together the care team, the patient and their support person to discuss progress, adjust care plans and schedule check-ins.

Patients can request huddles at any time, including phone consultations with the on-call doctor or midwife, so they get real-time answers to their questions. A shared planning tool — a white board prominently displayed in the patient’s room — serves as a visual reminder of care plans and preferences.

“We already strive to make patients feel supported and at the center of their care,” says Jondra Long, DNP, MS, RN, CHSE, CNEn, director of Women’s Services at Capital Medical Center. “But we believe TeamBirth will help our patients feel even more empowered to ask questions and make decisions throughout the birthing process.”

Across race and ethnicity, over 75 percent of patients were likely to recommend TeamBirth, according to Ariadne Labs. Surveys conducted after the initiative’s pilot at four hospitals (one of which was Overlake Medical Center) indicated that patients who experienced TeamBirth had:

• Better perception of hospital care
• More trust in providers
• Higher satisfaction in care quality

The surveys also reported better communication between care team members, increased job satisfaction among providers and less difficulty speaking up if anyone on the care team perceived a problem with patient care.

“We expect to replicate these achievements in patient experience and patient-centered care,” says Vicki Birkeland, RN, DNP, NEA-BC, director of Women’s Services for MultiCare’s Inland Northwest region. “We also expect to see improved birth outcomes, such as reduced C-section rates and increased breastfeeding rates.”