March 8th through the 14th is Patient Safety Awareness Week. While we have seen real progress in healthcare safety over the past two decades, medical harm remains a leading cause of death worldwide.
In the United States alone, estimates suggest that between 250,000 and 400,000 deaths occur annually due to preventable errors. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a public health concern that touches everyone. Even when harm isn’t fatal, the long-term impact on a patient’s physical health, emotional well-being, and financial stability can be devastating.
Because everyone interacts with the healthcare system at some point, we all have a role in advancing safe care and reducing these preventable outcomes.
The Reality of Maternal Mortality in the U.S.
One of the areas most dependent on safety improvements is maternal care. The United States continues to have the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries, with a rate of 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births.
The disparity in these figures is staggering. In 2024, the mortality rate for Black women Black women was 44.8 per 100,000 live births—more than three times higher than the rate for White women (14.2). This remained a critical focus of national health equity initiatives, as they continue to face risks significantly higher than other demographics. Addressing these preventable deaths is a cornerstone of the mission to reduce medical harm nationwide.
Postpartum Hemorrhage Complications is a Critical Concern
One specific area of complication for these women is postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). These preventable events are the cause of 27% of maternal deaths worldwide and 11% of U.S. maternal deaths. A full 20% of women who experience a hemorrhage have no identifiable risk factors.
Compared to vaginal delivery, women undergoing cesarean delivery (CD) incur the highest risk of PPH and hemorrhage-related morbidity.
A concerning statistic reported by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention indicates that the rate of postpartum hemorrhage is also rising sharply. For postpartum hemorrhage with blood transfusions, this occurred 7.9 times per 10,000 delivery hospitalizations in 1993 and later spiked to 39.7 per 10,000 in 2014.
The Joint Commission’s Recommendations for Improvement
To combat worsening maternal morbidity, The Joint Commission emphasizes that prevention, early recognition, and timely treatment for hemorrhage and severe hypertension/preeclampsia have the highest impact. Their roadmap for safer care includes:
- Universal screening: Assessing medical and socioeconomic factors for every patient.
- Preparedness: Building a culture where every unit is ready for the “possibility” of a crisis.
- Bias Training: Addressing unconscious biases to ensure equitable care for people of color.
- Performance Standards: Implementing rigorous improvement initiatives across all teams.
Simulation Training Enhances Team Readiness
As you can imagine, maternal hemorrhage is an “all hands on deck” life or death situation. Each member of the team requires understanding their role as well as how their role may shift depending on the variables that might present in such a high stakes situation.
One way to reduce variations of care and protect patients and families is to increase team readiness for these situations with scenario-based learning leveraging a high-fidelity surgical simulator.
Simulation training is a proven method of learning and has many benefits. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) now requires simulation to be utilized in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) training programs and for good reason: it allows teams to master the early recognition and timely treatment that The Joint Commission identifies as life-saving.
How OEI Supports Patient Safety
Operative Experience, Inc. (OEI) provides the world’s only fully-operative emergency obstetrics training solution. By allowing learners to practice with the same instruments and anatomical fidelity they face in real-world emergencies, we help bridge the gap between “theory” and “safe practice.”
Our Labor and Delivery Simulation Suite and RealMom vaginal delivery simulator (available in diverse skin tones) ensure that teams are prepared for:
- Emergency C-Section Delivery—enabling full transverse or vertical emergency C-Section and delivery procedures, featuring abdominal wall and uterine incision and repair.
- Fetal Extraction—experience and practice difficult deliveries such as shoulder dystocia, breech, nuchal cord, prolapse arm and use of suction assist and forceps.
- Postpartum Hemorrhage Control—practice hemorrhage control procedures, repair of complex lacerations and uterine artery injuries, hemorrhage control techniques including Bakri balloon, B-Lynch suture, Hayman suture and O’Leary stitch.
- Emergency Hysterectomy—training for postpartum and caesarean hysterectomy procedures including hemorrhage control and fully-operable removal of the uterus.
OEI also offers the RealMom vaginal delivery simulator. RealMom provides a lifelike wireless, full-body female simulator and full-term baby with unsurpassed realism and lifelike appearance. It features natural-feeling soft tissue, accurate internal anatomy and authentic pelvic structure. This simulator is available in Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian and African-American skin tones.
Childbirth is a precious moment for mother and baby but when things do go wrong a prepared delivery team can mean the difference between life and death. It’s critical that your learners train for and are prepared for any eventuality in the labor and delivery room.
By combining the ReallMom vaginal delivery simulator and the Emergency Obstetric Simulation Suite, a fully integrated and complete birthing experience can be provided for your learners — from natural deliveries to fully-operative emergency c-section and postpartum hemorrhage control and emergency hysterectomy
How You Can Support Patient Safety Week
Many healthcare organizations will be participating in this important week. Safety organizations have provided a variety of activities to mark the occasion.
Here are a few ideas to help you participate in Patient Safety Week:
- Review Resources: Visit the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) or AHA for current safety materials.
- Share Knowledge: Discuss patient safety incidents, near misses, and lessons learned with colleagues to create a learning environment.
- Engage in Dialogue: Join discussions about patient safety within your organization and community.
- Promote Safety Practices: Remind staff and encourage patients to follow safety protocols, such as proper hand hygiene.
- Use Social Media: Share safety research and quality activities on social media, using relevant hashtags like #PSAW26 and #ROSafety.
- Implement Safety Improvements: Take action on identified safety issues within your organization.
- Participate in Events: Participate in events or activities organized by your organization or local healthcare institutions.
- Recognize Success: Thank those who contribute to patient safety and celebrate successful initiatives.
Take action for patient safety. Share this article, participate in online discussions, and advocate for improved maternal care. Learn more about our simulation training and how it can make a difference. Together, we can create a safer future for mothers and babies.
Contact us today to schedule a demo.
