WV perinatal partnership QI initiative - the west virginia perinatal partnership (wvpp), the recognized perinatal quality collaborative for west virginia, is submitting a proposal for component a of…

WV perinatal partnership QI initiative - the west virginia perinatal partnership (wvpp), the recognized perinatal quality collaborative for west virginia, is submitting a proposal for component a of the centers for disease control and prevention's statewide perinatal quality collaboratives (PQC) program. The west virginia perinatal partnership, INC. (wvpp) is a not-for-profit statewide collaborative of healthcare professionals and public and private organizations working together to improve perinatal health in west virginia. Founded in 2006, the partnership is recognized throughout the state for its effectiveness in bringing together individuals and organizations involved in all aspects of perinatal care. The partnership works through a variety of committees to develop new programs, improve existing programs and policies, and implement best practice standards of care to create the best care possible for pregnant mothers and their babies. The wvpp is governed by a board of directors which is directly advised by a statewide central advisory council. The wvpp is proposing to increase implementation of quality improvement (QI) initiatives in birthing facilities statewide, including in facilities serving areas disproportionately impacted by adverse perinatal health outcomes. West virginia mothers are more likely than the vast majority of the country to have a preterm birth with a low birth weight baby. When broken down by race, instances of low birth weight and preterm birth are even higher among black residents. Through the proposed PQC QI program, wvpp will work collaboratively with all birthing hospitals to improve health outcomes of the perinatal population, and will target efforts in year 1 to reduce the number of very low birth weight babies born in hospitals without level III neonatal intensive care units in west virginia. To meet this goal, wvpp will employ the following strategies: 1. Build and strengthen the capacity of wvpp to improve the quality of perinatal care statewide. 2. Hire dedicated staff to lead QI initiatives. 3.establish a QI steering committee. 4.engage birthing facilities statewide to improve perinatal outcomes through engagement in QI. 5. Support facilities to implement the QI initiatives and engage in continuous quality improvement. 6. Build and strengthen data systems to improve identification and documentation of disparities among birth outcomes in WV. 7. Engage patients/communities in the QI initiative. 8. Engage partners and conduct outreach and dissemination of QI outcomes. 9. Assesses the quality and success of the QI project in reaching stated goals. 10. Perform analysis to ensure sustainability of the QI initiative capacity and ongoing work. As a result, wvpp will increase capacity to conduct QI initiatives which rapidly improve perinatal health care and outcomes statewide and reduce disparities in healthcare outcomes between subpopulations.