ASHRM Obstetrical Risk Management Playbook

Description

Obstetrical services present some of the highest-frequency and highest-severity liability exposures in healthcare. The Obstetrical Risk Management Playbook translates complex patient safety, quality, and risk management concepts into practical guidance for organizations providing maternity services. Designed for both emerging and experienced risk professionals, this playbook helps healthcare organizations reduce preventable harm, strengthen maternal and neonatal outcomes, and build a culture of safety across labor and delivery, postpartum, and ambulatory obstetrical settings.

Identify key sources of clinical, operational and professional liability risk across the continuum of obstetrical care
Apply evidence-based risk management strategies to improve maternal and neonatal safety outcomes
Strengthen communication, teamwork and escalation processes among obstetrical providers and care teams
Align obstetrical practices with regulatory, accreditation and patient safety expectations
Support organizational resilience through proactive identification, mitigation, and monitoring of obstetrical risks

What Sets This Resource Apart

✔ Obstetrical services face unique clinical, operational, and liability risks that require specialized risk management expertise
✔ Maternal and neonatal safety challenges demand integration of patient safety, quality, and risk management principles
✔ Content is designed to support both frontline caregivers and organizational leaders responsible for maternity services
✔ This playbook combines practical risk management strategies with real-world obstetrical care considerations
✔ Tools, examples, and best practices focus on improving safety outcomes while reducing exposure to high-severity claims

Key Topics

Maternal and neonatal patient safety principles

Prenatal care, screening and diagnostic risk considerations

Labor and delivery risk management and fetal monitoring

Communication and teamwork in obstetrical care

Emergency obstetrical events and rapid response protocols

Informed consent, patient-centered care, and shared decision-making

Documentation, disclosure, and event reporting practices

Enterprise risk management approaches to obstetrical services

Audience

This book was created for healthcare risk managers, patient safety professionals, obstetrical leaders, nurses, physicians, quality professionals, and others responsible for supporting safe maternity care services. It provides practical guidance for both those new to obstetrical risk management and seasoned professionals seeking to enhance existing programs.

Experience Level

The playbook is written to be accessible to professionals who are new to obstetrical risk management while also serving as a valuable reference for experienced practitioners. Concepts are presented with practical applications, real-world examples, and actionable strategies that can be implemented across a variety of care settings.

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