Relias and AWHONN Introduce Promoting Vaginal Birth Course as part of the Relias OB Clinical Solution Suite

Program aims to reduce the rate of unnecessary cesarean births to improve mother/baby safety and reduce maternal and infant complications.  

CARY, NC, March 1, 2018 – Relias, a trusted partner focused on reducing variation for more than 7,000 clients around the world and across the continuum of healthcare, today announced the release of Promoting Vaginal Birth, a new evidence-based course, as part of Relias OB, formerly GNOSIS™ OB. This course, created in conjunction with The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), addresses an issue of increasing national concern about the rising percentage of cesarean births. The percentage of cesarean births has increased over 50% in the United States over the past 20 years – from 20.7% in 1996 to today’s 31.9% – significantly above the 19% recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Unintended variation in healthcare represents a significant threat to quality and safety,” said Sandhya Gardner, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Relias. “The notable variation in cesarean birth rates at the state, hospital, and provider level illustrates this point all too well, and yet presents an enormous opportunity for improvement in both clinical and financial outcomes.”

Promoting Vaginal Birth joins four other assessment-driven learning courses in Relias OB. Relias OB uses a personalized learning approach and analytics to identify and reduce unintended clinical practice variation. This is paired with individual clinician performance reports and a rich database of national peer data for benchmarking and comparison.

Relias leverages the unique power of analytics and clinical knowledge assessments to understand which hospitals and providers have disproportionately high avoidable cesarean rates. We apply this information to create targeted learning programs aimed at achieving better provider and nurse performance and ultimately better patient outcomes.

“Cesarean Section is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in the United States,” said Elizabeth Rochin, PhD, RN, NE-BC, AWHONN Vice President for Nursing. “Supporting Promoting Vaginal Birth, a new collaborative educational program between AWHONN and Relias, provides the multidisciplinary education and team science approach that will play an integral part in reducing primary cesarean section.”

To learn more, Relias will be hosting a free webinar, “Promoting Vaginal Birth: A Data Informed and Team Approach to Reduce the Cesarean Birth Rate,” hosted by William Cusick, MD, MFM, FACOG, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine, St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Elizabeth Rochin, PhD, RN, NE-BC, Vice President of Nursing Services at AWHONN, and Relias Clinical Effectiveness Consultant Lora Sparkman, MHA, BSN, RN.

About AWHONN
Since 1969, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) has been the foremost authority promoting the health of women and newborns and strengthening the nursing profession through the delivery of superior advocacy, research, education, and other professional and clinical resources. AWHONN represents the interests of 350,000 registered nurses working in women’s health, obstetric, and neonatal nursing across the United States. Learn more about AWHONN at  www.awhonn.org.