Five Ways to Mitigate Obstetrical-Related Harm

At 3:00 p.m. after pushing for several hours, the woman’s labor and delivery (L & D) nurse noted a category II FHR pattern and administered oxygen. At 3:53 and 4:06 p.m., the L & D nurse contacted the OB about her concerns for fetal wellbeing. The OB arrived at the hospital at 4:15 p.m., reviewed the EFM strips, and noted the FHR was 200 beats per minute (BPM) with absent variability. The OB encountered difficulty with attempts of vaginal delivery and used a vacuum and forceps to deliver the baby at 4:40 p.m. The baby was born with a nuchal cord and no respiratory effort. The team intubated the baby and admitted her to the NICU with active seizures. The baby girl was diagnosed with significant neurological injuries and showed developmental delays in the years following before her death at five years of age.

The parents filed a malpractice claim against the OB and the hospital (L & D nurses), alleging delay in recognition and treatment of fetal distress, failure to recognize cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD), and failure to perform a cesarean section (C-section) in a timely manner. The experts who reviewed the case were critical of the L & D nursing team for failing to recognize troublesome FHR patterns early in the morning after admission, especially after pushing began, and then failing to communicate the situation to the OB. During the claim investigation, it was noted that there were discrepancies in the nursing notes and the OB’s memory about what information was communicated about the progress of labor and fetal status. The experts were critical of the OB for failing to recognize CPD and an abnormal labor curve and for failing to perform an emergency C-section. The case was closed with a payment made to the parents on behalf of the OB and the hospital.

Top allegations in obstetrical malpractice claims

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Top contributing factors involved in OB claims

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Several of the top contributing factors involved in obstetrical claims include patient assessment issues, communication breakdowns among the OB team, and a delay in recognition and treatment of fetal distress. In 44% of OB claims, a secondary responsible clinician was named; over half of these claims involved nursing and allegations of delay in recognition and treatment of fetal distress. These findings highlight potential gaps in fetal monitoring and team communication skills, as the case above illustrates.

Five ways to mitigate OB-related harm and malpractice claims

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1. Provide joint clinician and nursing team training and education using a comprehensive, evidence-based electronic FHR monitoring education program such as Relias Obstetrics Solution. Ensure all team members who review and assess electronic FHR monitor tracings are certified in electronic fetal monitoring.
2. Perform multi-disciplinary drills and simulations on low-frequency, high-severity events (e.g., non-reassuring fetal heart rate, shoulder dystocia, OB hemorrhage, prolapsed umbilical cord, and placental abruption).
3. Invest in team training and communication skills using tools such as SBAR and I-PASS.
4. Use OB documentation templates embedded in the electronic health record to help with complete and accurate documentation of events.
5. To guide practice, implement evidence-based safety bundles, such as the AIM Patient Safety Bundles. These bundles are a structured way of improving the processes of care and patient outcomes.

Watch the webinar rewind, Reducing Obstetrical Harm With Electronic Fetal Monitoring Team Training, to learn more about mitigating obstetrical-related harm.

*Follow: MyAccount > Risk Resources > Bundled Solutions > Obstetrics

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