Virtua Health, the largest health system in South Jersey, officially launched the TeamBirth program at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden today. TeamBirth is a national, evidence-based program with demonstrated benefits for those giving birth. Patient participants report feeling heard, respected, and included in their care, according to data released by the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute.

Virtua Voorhees Hospital and the Virtua Midwifery Birth and Wellness Center were among the first facilities statewide to adopt TeamBirth in 2022. Virtua Mount Holly Hospital launched TeamBirth a year later.

Now, with the implementation at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Virtua Health has become the first multi-site health system to fully implement TeamBirth. (Virtua’s hospitals in Marlton and Willingboro do not offer maternity services.)

“We have seen the tremendous benefit this program provides to patients and providers alike, and so we are delighted to offer it to our Camden community as well,” said Nicole Lamborne, MD, vice president of clinical operations for women’s and children’s services for Virtua Health. “The TeamBirth model supports open communication, personalized care, and outstanding experiences. It’s truly remarkable.”

The Quality Institute, in partnership with Ariadne Labs, leads the TeamBirth initiative in New Jersey.

A survey of nearly 2,000 people found that those who experienced TeamBirth reported higher rates of autonomy and involvement in shared decision-making during childbirth than those who did not experience the program. TeamBirth uses structured huddles with the full care team, including the patient, as well as a planning whiteboard to note patient preferences in support of ongoing, open communication.

Feedback from 1,287 people in New Jersey who participated in TeamBirth found that:

• 89% felt involved in decision-making.
• 90% felt informed about options for their care.
• 93% felt they understood the information given to them.
• 91% felt they had enough time to consider their options for care.
• 94% felt their choice was respected.

Importantly, TeamBirth may play a role in mitigating racial disparities in the childbirth experience, particularly among Black or African American people. In April 2024, U.S. News & World Report honored Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes as one of 26 hospitals nationwide considered high-performing in maternity care for Black maternal health. 

Read more about the impact of TeamBirth on the Quality Institute website.