FPQC 2019 Holiday Newsletter
Initiative Updates
“Always PROVIDE”: 76 Florida hospitals commit to Promote Primary Vaginal Deliveries
Florida has the highest cesarean rate in the nation, and seventy-six Florida hospitals have responded by signing up to work to improve quality of care, create a culture that supports vaginal birth, and reduce their cesarean rate in low-risk, first time mothers.

Hospitals vow to do MORE: FPQC’s new Maternal Opioid Recovery Effort
FPQC kicked off the newest maternal quality improvement initiative – the Maternal Opioid Recovery Effort (MORE) – on November 14, 2019. Over 120 representatives from hospitals, Healthy Start Coalitions, Medicaid managed care organizations and state agencies were in attendance.

NICU Teams, Families, Partners Share NAS Progress and Plans
In the midst of the current opioid epidemic, Florida hospital teams continue to merge evidence, compassion, and action to improve the quality of care for infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). On September 20, 2019, thirty-three Florida NICUs convened for the FPQC NAS Initiative Mid-Project Meeting at Second Harvest Food Bank in Orlando.

L&D Teams Across Florida Hone C-Section Prevention Skills
Workshops have been held across the state for two years, training nearly 500 nurses over the course of a year and a half. The workshops are offered as part of the FPQC’s PROVIDE Initiative which seeks to reduce Florida’s cesarean section rate.

William Sappenfield receives March of Dimes Service Award
The Florida Chapter of the March of Dimes announced the recipient of its 2019 Lawton Chiles Service Award: Dr. William M. Sappenfield, FPQC Director. The award recognizes an individual whose work has positively influenced the advancement of maternal and child health in the state of Florida in the areas of leadership, advocacy, evidence informed interventions, collaboration, and/or reducing health disparities.

Upcoming Events
Quality Improvement Trainings
This 10.5 hour, instructor-led training is designed to improve patient safety in the field of perinatal care and are co-taught by FPQC Associate Director of Quality Maya Balakrishnan, MD, CSSBB and FPQC Nurse Consultant Karen Fugate, MSN, RN, CPHQ. Contact [email protected] if your team is interested in bringing a training to your hospital!
Be Recognized for Your QI Efforts!
The John Curran Quality Improvement Award annually recognizes a Florida delivery hospital that has made a measurable and sustained positive change in a major perinatal quality improvement indicator/issue through the implementation of quality improvement activities. Download the application here!
Application deadline: January 3, 2020

View eligibility, criteria, and previous years' winners at www.FPQC.org/CurranAward