The Gift is an equity-focused, evidence-based quality improvement and designation
program that provides tools, training, and coaching to support Louisiana
birthing facilities with safe, equitable, and patient-centered implementation
of internationally recognized best practices to improve breastfeeding
and infant feeding outcomes.
The Gift uses comprehensive tools, training, and quality improvement science
to improve maternal and infant morbidity and mortality outcomes in Louisiana.
Hospital coaching activities include collaborative learning coaching calls,
topic calls, and one-on-one hospital quality improvement planning (charter
chats) focused on safe and equitable implementation of best practices
related to infant feeding and birth parent-infant attachment.
What is Birth Ready Designation?
In an effort to recognize participating Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative
(LaPQC) facilities and create a system of sustained evidence-based change,
the LaPQC offers the Louisiana Birth Ready Designation. With two tiers
of achievement – Louisiana Birth Ready and Louisiana Birth Ready+
– the Designation recognizes facilities’ consistent, thoughtful
healthcare improvement work. Birth Ready Designation also celebrates improved
perinatal health outcomes, the result of implementing clinical practices
that promote
safe, equitable, and dignified birth for all birthing persons in Louisiana.
Each Designation level includes five areas of requirement: participation
in collaborative learning, health disparity and patient partnership, policies
and procedures, structures and education, and outcome and process measures.
Many of the hospitals awarded Designation have been working for years
with the LaPQC, implementing evidence-based best practices that address
common causes of maternal mortality and morbidity related to hemorrhage
and hypertension, as well as practices that promote vaginal birth.
