Nurturing duo under expert care

Improving Obstetric Care in Germany: The PROvalue Birth Quality Agreement

Nurturing duo under expert care

In a bid to enhance the quality of obstetric care in Germany, AOK Rheinland/Hamburg and Severinskloesterchen Hospital in Cologne have signed a quality agreement known as the PROvalue Birth. This agreement is part of a broader initiative to optimize healthcare quality in hospitals across Germany.

The PROvalue Birth quality agreement aims to create a safer and more comfortable experience for both mother and child by setting standards for prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care. By focusing on patient safety, quality of care, and best practices, the agreement hopes to reduce complications and improve overall outcomes.

One of the key features of the PROvalue Birth agreement is the implementation of regular quality circles involving medical and nursing staff. These meetings will occur quarterly to discuss survey results and assess the effectiveness of the agreement. The evaluation process will consider information from the project plan, final survey, hospital data, and feedback from participating patients.

Under the agreement, patients will receive digital educational offers on birth-relevant topics. These resources are designed to empower patients, enabling them to make informed decisions about their care. The agreement also allows for faster intervention if support is needed that may not have been apparent during the hospital stay.

The agreement includes anchoring special requirements for treatments, such as taking into account previous birth experiences or accompanying the first months of life. After birth, screenings on topics such as bonding, breastfeeding success, postnatal depression, or birth trauma will be conducted, along with interventions in case of abnormalities. The screenings and interventions will be tailored to the individual patient based on the anamnesis conversation.

The Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) has commissioned the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQTIQ) to evaluate the quality contract. The evaluation period is from May 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027. Regular patient feedback, including experiences and opinions regarding health, subjective well-being, and illness symptoms, will be sought up to twelve months after discharge.

The national health goal in Germany is "Health around Birth", and the PROvalue Birth quality agreement aligns with this objective. Prof. Dr. Jan Schmolling, chief physician of gynecology and obstetrics at Severinskloesterchen Hospital, believes the agreement enables them to accompany the mother more closely before, during, and after birth. By improving obstetric care, the agreement hopes to contribute to a healthier and happier start for newborns in Germany.