Safer Births with AIM Patient Safety Bundles

The Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) provides education and resources to make birth safer, improve maternal health outcomes, and save lives. Their newest resource is the AIM Patient Safety Bundle Learning Modules which was introduced in a recent HealthStream webinar.

The webinar was moderated by Allison Keys, HealthStream’s Campaign Marketing Manager for Clinical Programs and featured presenters:

• Sarah Wright, MA, Public Health Analyst, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA)
• Christie Allen, Senior Director of Quality Improvement and Programs, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
• Isabel Taylor, Senior Data Program Manager, AIM at ACOG
• Sita Chandra, Technical Assistance Specialist, AIM at ACOG
• Shelby Bluthardt, Senior Sales Executive, Child and Maternal, HealthStream

An Introduction to AIM and HRSA

Wright shared an overview of AIM, HRSA and Maternal and Child Health Bureau. HRSA provides grants with the goal of supporting healthy communities and people, improving health outcomes, and addressing health disparities. The mission of Maternal and Child Health Bureau is to improve the health and well-being of America’s mothers, children and families. She went on to say that Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s strategic plan is focused on four goals:

• Improving access to high-quality and equitable health services
• Furthering health equity for MCH populations
• Enhancing capacity and workforce for MCH populations
• Maximizing impact with leadership, partnership, and stewardship

The initiative began in 2011 when the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) convened the Council on Patient Safety and Women’s Healthcare – AIM’s predecessor. In 2018, funding was continued with the goal of developing patient safety bundles and providing resources and assistance for states implementing the bundles.

The AIM Technical Assistance Center

The AIM Technical Assistance Center provides technical assistance and resources in support of entities implementing the AIM Quality Improvement Initiative. They provide technical assistance and some funding to those states that are not funded directly by the government. Allen pointed out that the assistance provided by the TA Center directly supports AIM’s mission – to support best practices that make birth safer, improve maternal health outcomes, and save lives.

Allen went on to share the Technical Assistance Center’s desired outcomes:

• Increase the number of hospitals and other birthing facility settings implementing patient safety bundles
• Support widespread implementation of core Patient Safety Bundles
• Increase the technical support provided to participating AIM states
• Increase the number of core bundles being implemented
• Provide technical assistance to support reporting that evaluates disparities

AIM Patient Safety Bundles

Allen explained that Patient Safety Bundles are structured ways of improving processes of care and patient outcomes. While Patient Safety Bundles are not new, AIM is likely the first to apply them to obstetric and maternity care. She went on to describe the bundles as descriptive rather than prescriptive. The bundles include collections of evidence-informed best practices which address clinically-specific conditions and high-risk periods of time in pregnant and postpartum people. Allen also clarified that evidence-informed best practices are informed by previous research, but not necessarily limited by it, allowing for the inclusion of lived experience and patient values as well as clinical expertise. In addition, this evidence is supported by a broad range of work groups and disciplines to ensure a comprehensive approach.

AIM Resources

Taylor shared that AIM resources are open and free and can be found on the AIM website, and on the organization’s Vimeo channel. In addition, each Patient Safety Bundle has a library of resources including implementation details and resources, data collection plans, an implementation webinar, a change package with ideas to help kickstart the initiative, an introductory video, and a learning module for each of the core Patient Safety Bundles. In addition, there is a podcast where listeners can learn from a wide variety of subject matter experts.

AIM Patient Safety Bundle Learning Modules

Each AIM Patient Safety Bundle features a comprehensive 40-minute overview of the bundle topic, and includes multi-disciplinary quality improvement strategies. The learning modules can be found on HealthStream and Nursegrid. Each of the eight learning modules includes a pre-test of 10 questions, 30 minutes of video course content, and a post-test consisting of the same 10 questions featured in the pre-test. Users earn one CME credit per module. Chandra also added that the modules include a comprehensive set of FAQs and a social media kit to help implement the learning modules.

These Patient Safety Bundles are complimentary for HealthStream customers. Users may simply sign on to access the catalog of content. Leaders may choose to assign this learning to staff or staff may elect to self-enroll. To learn more about the AIM Patient Safety Bundles and how to improve outcomes, ensure safer births, and save lives, contact HealthStream today.