Mercy Medical Center Earns Distinction as TeamBirth Recognized Site

SPRINGFIELD — Mercy Medical Center announced the achievement of TeamBirth recognition, which is a testament to the dedication of Mercy staff and leadership to ensuring that every patient’s voice is heard throughout the birth experience.

“This important achievement confirms our success in ensuring that every woman giving birth and the clinicians who care for them feel empowered to participate in decisions made during labor and delivery,” said Dr. Elizabeth Rottenberg, chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology and medical director of the Family Life Center at Mercy Medical Center. “TeamBirth is designed to foster teamwork and communication among physicians, midwives, nurses, staff, and the woman giving birth, allowing our patients to be heard and supported during their stay at the Family Life Center.”

Mercy Medical Center implemented TeamBirth in 2023 to optimize teamwork and communication before, during, and after labor and delivery. Through structured huddles and a shared planning board, TeamBirth empowers patients, their support people, and their clinicians to reach care decisions together. The result is more dignified, respectful care that gives patients the role they want. TeamBirth was developed by the Delivery Decisions Initiative at Ariadne Labs, a joint center for health-system innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

The recognition program aims to honor hospital sites that center patient autonomy and dignity throughout the birthing process with a sustained TeamBirth practice. Recognition is achieved when a site attests to core components of TeamBirth, submits results from an observed huddle, and demonstrates ongoing commitment to TeamBirth through an engagement activity. Recognition is renewed every three years.

“TeamBirth provides a standard structure of communication that occurs among people giving birth, their families, and their healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Amber Weiseth, director of the Delivery Decisions Initiative at Ariadne Labs. “We’re so encouraged by Mercy Medical Center’s leadership and staff for this ongoing commitment to ensure that every patient has a voice in the decisions made throughout their birthing process.”