Obstetrics Initiative celebrates milestone: 100,000 births recorded in registry

The Obstetrics Initiative that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan supports celebrated a significant milestone recently, surpassing 100,000 births in its data registry. OBI is a Collaborative Quality Initiative coordinating statewide efforts across more than 70 hospitals in Michigan to optimize maternity care experiences, health outcomes and equity among patients of different backgrounds. OBI’s clinical registry data is a powerful, one-of-a-kind resource that helps maternity clinicians across the state identify opportunities to improve obstetric care.

100,000 births registered

OBI began data collection in 2019, gathering valuable information on the most common births in Michigan. Specifically, OBI was able to capture a 30% sample of nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex, or NTSV, births, which are first-time live births at or beyond 37 weeks gestation that are singleton (no twins or beyond) and in the vertex (head-down) position.

Since its inception, the OBI registry has collected the detailed data that clinicians need to take action to improve care quality. The OBI registry allows the coordinating center team to analyze hospital performance changes over time, identifying successes and areas where improvement is needed. Driven by the actionable data insights in OBI’s registry, 11 OBI sites with the highest NTSV cesarean section rates in the state reduced their rates from 35.3% in January 2023 to 29.8% in August 2023.

“OBI’s effectiveness depends on rich, clinically credible data about hospital performance,” said Dr. Michelle Moniz, OBI’s program director. “OBI clinical data abstractors painstakingly review clinical records, populate OBI’s registry and disseminate comparative data to maternity clinicians across the state to improve care. We are so grateful to them for creating this one-of-a-kind data resource for driving quality improvement.”

Outreach and engagement with members

OBI’s registry data is used to engage maternity clinicians in quality improvement. Through the OBI registry, OBI member hospitals can access near real-time data on their performance and how it compares to others across the state. The OBI team uses registry data to tell stories and change minds at semiannual meetings and, in response, the collaborative has seen an impressive 133% increase in physician attendance.

That engagement has carried over online. Despite a turbulent year for X (formerly Twitter), OBI’s engagement rate on the platform increased 12,000% in the last year, including a 145% increase in followers and a 283% increase in profile views. And 2023 also saw a brand refresh for OBI, with the introduction of refreshed logos, brand colors and a new website. This refreshed look and streamlined website added improved functionality that makes it easier for partner sites to interpret their performance data, access OBI’s quality improvement resources and share best practices with other maternity clinicians across the state.

In 2023, OBI’s 100,000 births milestone and heightened engagement metrics are a testament to what can happen when clinicians come together to improve the care provided in our community. In 2024, OBI looks forward to utilizing data and the clinical expertise at member hospitals to continue striving to improve experiences, outcomes and equity in obstetrics care across the state.

Additional resources can be found on the OBI website, obstetricsinitiative.org.*

For more information on CQIs and other Value Partnerships programs, visit valuepartnerships.com.

*Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network don’t own or control this website

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.