New York State Breastfeeding Quality Improvement in Hospitals (BQIH)
Overview
From June 2010-March 2012, NICHQ worked with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Bureau of Community Chronic Disease Prevention (BCCDP) on the New York State Breastfeeding Quality Improvement in Hospitals Learning Collaborative (NYS BQIH). The aim of the project was to improve the health of children by increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates, improving hospital maternity care practices and building capacity within NYSDOH and New York State (NYS) hospitals to help achieve their commitment to quality. This initiative supported the NYSDOH’s efforts to improve compliance with NYS Public Health Laws and NYS Hospital Codes, Rules and Regulations.
Project Goals and Measures
The main goal of this project was to increase breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding, among mothers and healthy newborn infants in 12 hospitals that provide maternity services in NYS by improving hospital breastfeeding policies and practices to be consistent with NYS hospital regulations, laws and recommended best practices. This project worked with hospital outside New York City while a complementary initiative was conducted with NYC hospitals by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
The objectives were:
- Define key change concepts and strategies to improve critical drivers of improved outcomes.
- Design a comprehensive measurement strategy to track progress in meeting the overall project aims.
- Provide Quality Improvement technical assistance and training to targeted hospitals providing maternity care services.
- Plan a strategy to spread improvement from initial 12 participants in the BQIH to all NYS hospitals providing maternity care services.
Status
March 2012- The project completed its close-out phase.
- Hospital teams successfully completed all 4 Action Periods and attended a total of 5 Learning Sessions.
- The average rate of exclusive breastfeeding across all hospitals in the project was 41.41% in November 2011, up from a June 2010 baseline of 33.78%.
Project Team
NICHQ Project Staff- Pat Heinrich, RN, MSN (Project Director)
- Patricia Simino Boyce, RN, PhD (Improvement Advisor)
- Karen Errichetti, MPH (Senior Project Manager)
- Erin Ellingwood (Project Manager)
- Barbara A. Dennison, MD (Project Lead)
- Stephanie Hisgen, RN, MPH, CLC (Breastfeeding Project Coordinator)
- Sara Bonam-Welge, MS, RD (Content Expert)
- Patricia Waniewski, RN, MS (Improvement Advisor)
Related Resources & News
- Hudson Valley Hospital Center Named 'Baby Friendly' (Peeksvill Daily Voice, 2/13/13)
- Birthplace Reborn: Renovation to maternity unit parallels changes in care at St. Mary’s in Amsterdam (The Leader-Herald, 4/1/2012)
- Majority of U.S. Hospitals Do Not Fully Support Breastfeeding (CDC Press Release, 8/20/2011)
- Hospital Support for Breastfeeding--Preventing Obesity Begins In Hospitals (CDC Vital Signs Report, 8/2011)
- Hospital Practices to Support Breastfeeding (CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 8/2/2011)
If you have any questions about this project, please email obesity@nichq.org.
