Congratulations!!!
Congratulations to Dr. Kelechi Ikeri for being selected to serve on the National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (NNPQC) Executive Committee as a Neonatal Representative! Through this role, Dr. Ikeri will help provide guidance and recommendations to the NNPQC with a goal of strengthening state PQC leadership, capacity, and functionality. Congratulations, Dr. Ikeri!
Recognizing:
The Safe Sleep Advisory Committee
We would like to take a moment to recognize the members of our Safe Sleep Advisory Committee and the work they do on safe sleep initiatives all across the state. This advisory group was formed in May and has been vital to sharing resources and knowledge of safe sleeping environments with many communities across Alabama. Members of the committee include representatives from:
- The Alabama Department of Public Health
- Impact Family Counseling
- The Alabama Cooperative Extension
- USA Health Children’s and Women’s Hospital
- UAB Women and Infants Center
- The Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
- UAB Perinatal Nurse Navigation
- The Jefferson County Department of Health
- Birmingham Healthy Start Plus
Thank you all for your valuable input and effort as we kick off our Safe Sleep Initiative!
Announcing:
The Promoting Vaginal Births Provider Advisory Group
Provider engagement is essential to the success of our initiatives. On the front lines, healthcare providers educate families, model best practices, and reinforce safe, evidence-based care at every interaction. Their participation drives better outcomes and strengthens connections across hospitals, clinics, and communities.
The ALPQC Promoting Vaginal Births Provider Advisory Group will hold its inaugural meeting next month, providing an important opportunity for providers to guide efforts to safely reduce primary cesarean rates in Alabama. Chaired by our OB Co-Leads, Dr. Brian Brocato and Dr. Frances Burgan, the advisory group includes the following experts from across the state: Dr. Amelia Hewes, Dr. Valerie Waddell, Dr. Megan Zeien, Dr. Thomas Shakar, Dr. John McDonald, Dr. Sathiyakala Rajendiran, and Jenny Goss, CNM.
Looking Ahead:
Safe Sleep
This month marks the beginning of the baseline period for our upcoming Neonatal Initiative: Project CRIBS. Project CRIBS: Caregiver Education and Role Modeling of In-hospital Best Practice for Safe Sleep aims to increase by 10%:
- The percent of eligible newborns greater than 34 weeks corrected gestational age observed sleeping in “safe” environments during birth hospitalization and
- The percent of caregivers who correctly answer all safe sleep practice questions correctly before infant discharge among participating hospitals by June 30th, 2027
With a focus on staff and caregiver knowledge of safe sleep practices, modeling safe sleep while in the hospital environment, and ensuring a safe sleep environment at home, our participating hospital teams can make a meaningful impact in reducing sleep-related infant deaths across Alabama.
Our project measures are divided into outcome, process, and balancing measures as outlined below:
- Outcome Measures: Percent of infants sleeping in ideal sleep environments while hospitalized, percent of caregivers answering all safe sleep questions correctly, and percent of caregivers indicating willingness to practice safe sleep at home
- Process Measures: Safe sleep room audits and caregiver knowledge assessments
- Balancing Measure: Abnormal infant temperature (Hypothermia)
If your hospital would like to participate in this initiative and is not currently enrolled, please scan the QR code here:
Looking Ahead:
Promoting Vaginal Births Initiative
The October–December 2025 baseline period marks the start of our Promoting Vaginal Birth (PVB) Initiative, setting the foundation for hospitals to drive measurable reductions in Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex (NTSV) cesarean births and promote evidence-based, patient-centered care.
The PVB initiative aims to reduce the primary cesarean birth rate by 20% among participating hospitals by June 2027 through evidence-based strategies that promote shared decision-making, labor support for physiologic birth, and adherence to best practice guidelines.
The initiative focuses on empowering care teams to optimize labor management, improve communication between providers and patients, and ensure high-quality care for all birthing individuals.
Our project measures are divided into outcome, process, and balancing measures as outlined below:
- Outcome Measures: Reduction in primary and NTSV cesarean birth rates.
- Process Measures: Reduction of NTSV cesarean deliveries due to non-progressive labor, dystocia, failed inductions, or fetal concerns. Safe reductions of cesarean rates for these indications will be supported by the use of standardized labor management tools, shared decision-making aids, and adherence to ACOG/SMFM guidelines for labor progression and induction.
- Balancing Measures: Monitoring of maternal and neonatal outcomes to ensure patient safety and quality of care are maintained.
If your hospital would like to participate in this initiative and is not currently enrolled, please scan the QR code here:
