Objective: In 2004, the three-module, three-year long patient safety program, Managing Obstetrical Risk Efficiently (MOREOB), was introduced to all clinicians providing obstetrical services in Alberta. We report on an outcomes evaluation of this initiative.
Methods: Provincial hospital discharge abstracts for each mother and infant were obtained from 2003 through 2008. A pre-post design with a multivariate analysis was conducted for each relevant maternal and fetal outcome.
Results: For maternal outcomes, third- and fourth-degree tears and length of stay were significantly decreased. For newborn outcomes, severe morbidity was significantly reduced.
Conclusion: The MOREOB program was associated with improvement in selected maternal and fetal health outcome indicators. When a patient safety program is introduced as an intensive, long-term continuing education and quality improvement initiative, health outcomes can be significantly impacted.