Patient-centered program improves the labor and delivery experience while reducing breakdowns in communication that contribute to disparities in rates of maternal morbidity and mortality and between white patients and their non-white counterparts.

PORTLAND, ORE — April 28, 2025 — Legacy Health has implemented TeamBirth, providing a framework for communication, shared decision-making and amplifying the patient voice during labor and delivery. This program ensures patients, and the clinicians caring for them, have input and understanding during the delivery of care.

Legacy Health is joining the more than 150 hospitals nationwide currently using TeamBirth, implementing the program within its family birth centers at all six of its hospitals, including Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center, Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center, Legacy Silverton Medical Center, Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, and Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center.

For decades, the maternal mortality rate in the United States has increased, and today, people giving birth are 50% more likely to die in childbirth than their own mothers. That staggering statistic increases by three to four more times if they are Black or Native American. Failures in communication between providers and patients account for up to 90% of preventable injuries during childbirth.

When TeamBirth’s structured communication system is used every time for every patient, 97% of patients feel they have the role they wanted in their childbirth experience and 93% of clinicians feel care delivery is improved through better communication, teamwork, and shared decision-making.

“All people who give birth deserve to have a safe, dignified experience. At Legacy Health, we are committed to reducing racial disparities in the healthcare experience that lead to adverse maternal and newborn outcomes and holding ourselves accountable with data and patient testimonies” says Tae-Sun Kim, PhD, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. “TeamBirth reflects our commitment to achieving health equity by shifting the power dynamics people have come to expect in medical settings to a focus on clinical processes and enhanced listening skills shown to improve patient experiences and outcomes for all populations.”

TeamBirth’s care team huddles ensure that the person giving birth and their hospital care team – alongside any additional people providing support to the birthing hospital (doulas, spouses, parents of the expecting person, etc.) – experience coordinated and seamless collaboration.

The program is structured so that patients, their family and others involved can actively participate in their birthing plan through shared decision making with labor and delivery staff. It also provides everyone with an opportunity to understand the patient’s desires or expectations in case there are any unexpected changes to the delivery plan. Huddles happen on admission to the hospital, with any changes to the patient’s condition, when decisions are made surrounding delivery or anytime the patient or a team member requests a huddle.

“Giving birth is such a special moment of life. Our hospitals and care team members are committed to ensuring individuals giving birth have the best possible experience in the hospital while bringing their new child into the world,” says Dr. Karen Archabald, Senior Medical Director, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Family Birth. “Using shared planning boards, patient-centered huddles and decision support aids, TeamBirth creates clear avenues of communication and the opportunity for everyone to participate and agree to a plan equally. It keeps the expecting parent an active participant in their health care, creating a collaborative process between doctors and patients every step of the way.”

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. For more information about TeamBirth and to schedule a Family Birth Center tour, visit TeamBirth | Legacy Health.

---

About Legacy Health
Legacy Health is a local, nonprofit health system driven by our mission to improve the health of those around us. We offer a unique blend of health services – from wellness and urgent care to dedicated children’s care and advanced medical centers – to care for patients of all ages when and where they need us across the Portland/Vancouver metro area and mid-Willamette Valley. For more information, visit www.legacyhealth.org.