The UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is committed to improving the clinical outcomes of the women we serve through excellence in patient care, research, and the training of future women’s health providers. Quality and patient safety efforts are central to achieving this mission of excellence in women’s healthcare.

Departmental Value Officer (DVO) Council

The Departmental Value Officer (DVO) Council provides a collaborative forum to align quality, safety, and performance improvement efforts across UAB Medicine. The DVO meets monthly with Dr. Kennedy and the other DVOs from across departments. This group monitors key performance metrics and develops action plans, in consultation with nursing leadership, to address opportunities identified through ongoing quality monitoring.

Attendees: DVOs, Chief Medical Quality Officer (CMQO), Associate Chief Medical Officers (ACMOs), Associate Chief Quality Officers (ACQOs), and nursing/operational dyad partners (as needed).

Purpose

• Education and Information Sharing: Provide ongoing education and updates to physician quality leaders on key initiatives.
• Collaboration and Support: Identify opportunities for shared learning and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Continuous Improvement: Discuss opportunities to enhance the DVO role, improve quality structures, and strengthen meeting processes.
• Progress Reporting: Each DVO presents an update on their initiatives every six months, ideally co-presented with nursing and operational partners.
• Strategic Alignment: Each DVO identifies at least one domain-driven initiative and one department-driven initiative annually to support institutional and departmental quality goals.

UAB Medicine Quality Goals and Benchmarks

The UAB Medicine quality framework emphasizes:

• A defined structure with clearly identified and accountable leadership
• Comprehensive participation of all providers (faculty, trainees, APPs, and nursing) through regularly scheduled meetings
• A thorough and systematic review of all HAC/PSI, linked to institutional review processes
• A structured mortality review process for all departmental patient deaths
• Evidence of QI projects aligned with institutional goals and priorities
• Scholarly productivity through presentations and publications

Departmental Engagement and Education

To achieve departmental goals, the Executive Quality Committee (EQC) actively promotes the mission and initiatives of the Section of Quality and Patient Safety across all divisions. A bimonthly Departmental QI Conference provides a case-based review of complications and includes a focused mini-lecture or discussion with each presentation. This well-attended forum offers faculty, fellows, and residents an opportunity to discuss quality, patient safety, and compliance issues. Residents also gain experience collaborating with health system leaders, supporting their ACGME core competency in practice-based learning and improvement. Selected residents serve on the UAB Medicine Patient Safety Committee.

Scholarly Activity

The Section of Quality and Patient Safety promotes academic engagement through quality-related research, publication, and professional development. Several departmental projects have been presented nationally and published in peer-reviewed journals. Faculty interested in advancing their expertise in quality improvement are encouraged to participate in UAB Medicine’s Mini-Quality Academy and other institutional training opportunities.