Wellesley, Mass.-based Harvard Pilgrim Health Care announced a collaboration with Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health and health innovation center Ariadne Labs on TeamBirth, an initiative to improve maternal healthcare throughout New England.
First developed by Ariadne Labs, the mission of TeamBirth includes improving communication between mothers and their physicians and employing decision-making tools aimed at reducing cesarean sections, according to a May 11 news release.
"Through our collaboration with Ariadne Labs and UMass Memorial HealthAlliance, our goal is to improve birth outcomes, decrease cesarean section procedures and improve the patient experience for expectant mothers and their families," said Harvard Pilgrim Health CMO Michael Sherman, MD.
During TeamBirth's pilot program, 79 percent of patients said there was a positive difference in the care they received, and 94 percent said their physicians spoke to them in a comprehensible manner, the news release said.