Among the many tasks that nurses face, one of the most challenging — and rewarding — is supporting mothers through childbirth.
Because labor and delivery can be unpredictable, requiring nurses to monitor and interpret lots of data while managing their patients safely, it’s critical that they have all the information they need to make the right clinical decisions.
Certain EHR features can help nurses provide mother and baby with a safe, comforting experience throughout their stay:
Coordinated mother and baby information: When users have a consolidated view of information for the mother and baby on a single screen, they can better coordinate care for both. And as an expectant mother is nearing delivery, combining the data for mother and baby allows nurses to bring information from the mother’s chart into the baby’s, without needing additional documentation.
Realtime status boards: Status boards monitor patients in real time and highlight critical information to help nurses triage quickly and effectively. These features also securely share information for handoffs from one shift to another, further improving efficiency and quality of care.
Integrated surgery workflow: In cases of an unexpected C-section, nurses can coordinate directly with the surgical team from the labor and delivery workflow, saving time when every minute counts.
Point of Care mobility: Using mobile devices for labor and delivery is not just a major improvement in time savings and convenience for nurses — it can help reduce noise and disruptions in the maternity ward, and provide a calmer environment for families to bond in the first few hours of their new baby’s life.
Of course, the birth of a baby is only the beginning — EHRs should also support interoperability with pediatricians and OB/GYN doctors so that the health data of the mother and child are easily accessible to support their ongoing care.
By providing nurses with these tools, an integrated labor and delivery solution can ensure that a new mother and her baby receive the best care possible.
Life's most important transition of care occurs the moment a baby enters the world. With MEDITECH's Expanse Labor and Delivery solution, nurses can keep this transition safe and seamless, from the start of labor through postpartum care.