The UAB Department of OB/GYN is dedicated to improving the outcomes of women through excellence in clinical care, research, and our training programs that educate women’s health providers of the future. Although most clinical academic departments have QI committees that are responsible for tracking complications, performing case reviews, and holding Morbidity and Mortality conferences, most are not structured to handle the implementation of practice change. Therefore, in an effort to improve the quality and safety of the care we deliver, the UAB Department of OB/GYN has developed a dedicated Section of Quality and Patient Safety, with an organizational structure and strategic elements that are needed for success in quality and patient safety. This section is an important facilitator of efforts to achieve health system and departmental quality goals.

The Vice Chair of Quality will lead a group of faculty who will have the ability to implement and promote practice change. The Medical Quality Officers, key faculty, nursing leadership, and the Quality and Clinical Data Manager represent the Executive Quality Committee (EQC). Their major focus is to assist the department in embracing UAB’s core values and focus on quality, patient safety, and clinical effectiveness. The major objectives are to improve the quality of care provided to women, to reduce clinical practice variation by standardizing evidence-based care, and to control costs associated with care. Three UAB Medicine appointed faculty work with Dr. Loring Rue and the CMO team to serve as a liaison between the Department and administrative leadership on matters pertaining to the delivery of patient care within UAB Medicine clinical facilities.