SHELTON, WA – Mason Health will be one of 17 hospitals in Washington state and Oregon to participate in the third cohort of TeamBirth, with go-live dates beginning the week of Oct. 21. TeamBirth improves care by ensuring people giving birth and the clinicians caring for them have shared input and understanding during the delivery of care. TeamBirth was developed by Ariadne Labs, a joint center for health systems innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The TeamBirth program calls for team huddles at key decision points throughout the birthing mother’s hospital stay. Huddles happen on admission to the hospital, with any changes to the patient or child’s condition, when decisions are made surrounding delivery, or anytime the patient or a team member requests a huddle. The huddle aspect of TeamBirth ensures that everyone involved in the birthing process is on the same page. The person giving birth – alongside any caregivers who are not part of hospital staff (doulas, spouses, parents of the expecting person, etc.) – convene with the labor and delivery staff to go over a birthing plan and any desires or expectations of the person giving birth. This ensures shared decision-making between the new parent and hospital staff in case of any unexpected changes to the delivery plan.

“The Mason General Hospital Birth Center has a stellar reputation for making our families feel supported and welcome,” said Birth Center Manager Kris Gaa. “The TeamBirth initiative aligns with our priorities to always make sure that a patient’s voice is heard. Giving birth can be an overwhelming experience, and we strive to ensure that our patients receive the best, most-informed care.”

The rollout of the TeamBirth program is a joint venture between the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) and Massachusetts-based Ariadne Labs, supported with funding by Ballmer Group. WSHA will roll out TeamBirth to birthing hospitals in Washington in four cohorts, with a goal of reaching 100 percent program adoption in the state’s birthing hospitals by the end of 2025.

The 17 hospitals participating in the third cohort include:

• Astria Sunnyside Hospital

• Kadlec Regional Medical Center

• Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center

• Legacy Silverton Medical Center

• Mason Health, Public Hospital District No. 1

• MultiCare Capital Medical Center

• MultiCare Deaconess Hospital

• MultiCare Valley Hospital

• PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center

• PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center

• PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center

• Providence St. Mary Medical Center

• Pullman Regional Hospital

• Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel

• St. Anne Hospital

• WhidbeyHealth

• Whitman Hospital & Medical Clinics

“We are excited to be one of the first states in the country to implement TeamBirth,” said WSHA CEO Cassie Sauer. “Our hospitals are committed to those giving birth having the best possible experience in the hospital bringing their new child into the world. Giving birth is such a special moment of life. The implementation of this program creates clear avenues of communication to keep everyone on the same page, and to keep the expecting parent an active participant in their health care.”

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Mason Health, Public Hospital District No. 1 of Mason County is ISO 9001 Quality Management System certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and is a licensed and accredited acute care hospital with a level four emergency trauma designation. Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic are ENERGY STAR® certified and Mason Health is the recipient of three Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Partner for Change Awards, two Greening the Operating Room Awards and the Making Medicine Mercury Free Award. To learn more about Mason Health’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.masonhealth.com/ab.... There are more than 100 physicians on staff in 19 specialties. For more information or to find a health care provider, visit www.masongeneral.com. To learn more about DNV, visit http://www.dnv.com/healthcare.

The Washington State Hospital Association advocates for and provides value to members in achieving their missions and improving the health of their communities. WSHA represents more than 100 hospitals and health systems in the state, including those that are non-profit, investor-owned, and county, state and military hospitals. The Quadruple Aim guides our members and our work as we strive to reduce the cost of health care and improve the patient experience, the clinician experience and the health of our communities. Visit www.wsha.org for more information.

Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States, funding leaders and organizations that have demonstrated the ability to reshape opportunity and reduce systemic inequities. We focus on multiple impact areas and systems that can impact economic mobility - such as early learning, K-12 education, college and career pathways, housing, behavioral health, and criminal justice - and we support leaders and organizations that focus on undoing systemic racism and the barriers it has created. Ballmer Group is both a national and regional funder – we have a presence and invest deeply in southeast Michigan, Washington state, and Los Angeles County. Ballmer Group was co-founded by philanthropist Connie Ballmer and her husband Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, founder of USAFacts, and chairman of the Los Angeles Clippers. Learn more at www.ballmergroup.org.

For more information, visit https://www.wsha.org/teambirth.

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