As Vice Chair of Quality and Patient Safety for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, I am pleased to share an overview of our program and our commitment to excellence in women’s health.

Our vision is to be recognized throughout Alabama as the OB/GYN provider of choice for delivering the highest quality care. In alignment with UAB Medicine and national patient safety initiatives, we are dedicated to eliminating preventable adverse events and achieving the best possible patient outcomes in an efficient and compassionate manner. Our comprehensive approach integrates team-based care, continuous education, and collaborative problem-solving—guided by patient experience, provider feedback, and robust data collection across both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Quality and safety are central to every aspect of our mission—education, research, and clinical care. Residents and fellows play a vital role in data collection, planning, and the design and implementation of quality and safety projects. Their engagement ranges from participation in departmental QI conferences to leading targeted initiatives that enhance patient outcomes. Research within the Department not only informs many of our quality efforts but also benefits from the insights gained through our quality data collection and analysis. At the heart of all these activities is our unwavering commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care and satisfaction. Our team strives to lead patient safety initiatives at UAB, across the state, and nationally.

The Executive Quality Committee (EQC) forms the backbone of our program. This multidisciplinary team of clinicians, nurses, and administrators collaborates to set the strategic direction for quality and safety within the department and represents OB/GYN on health system committees. Together, we identify key priorities, develop new initiatives that enhance patient care, and share our successes and best practices across UAB Medicine.

Our greatest strength lies in our community of faculty, fellows, residents, students, and nurses—a group of exceptional professionals who consistently demonstrate a deep commitment to patient care, professionalism, and ethics. United by these values, we continue to advance compassionate, high-quality care for women across all stages of life.

— J. Michael Straughn, Jr., M.D.
Vice Chair of Quality and Patient Safety
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology