Shared decision-making is when a patient and their health care provider work together to make health care decisions. It encourages patients to be involved in their own care and provides space for them to share their health care goals and preferences.
TeamBirth is a shared decision-making program. It involves team huddles and other tools used during childbirth. Using these tools for every birth helps improve communication and ensure respectful care that aligns with the birthing person’s preferences.
To improve communication and teamwork in the health care delivery system, we partnered with Ariadne Labs to implement their TeamBirth program in New Jersey. TeamBirth is currently implemented in 18 NJ birthing facilities and continues to expand.
Capital Health Medical Center Hopewell
HMH Hackensack University Medical Center*
HMH Jersey Shore University Medical Center*
HMH JFK University Medical Center*
Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill*
Inspira Medical Center Vineland*
Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital*
RWJBH Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center*
RWJBH Monmouth Medical Center*
RWJBH Jersey City Medical Center*
RWJBH Trinitas Medical Center*
RWJ University Hospital*
Saint Peter’s University Hospital*
Saint Peter’s Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center*
Virtua Midwifery Birth & Wellness Center*
Virtua Mount Holly Hospital*
Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
Virtua Voorhees Hospital*
*Implementation supported through the NJ Department of Health’s Maternal Health Innovation (MHI) Program
To learn more about TeamBirth or implementing TeamBirth in your facility, please complete this interest form.
Birthing people in New Jersey who experience TeamBirth report feeling heard, included in their care, and that their preferences were respected. They express higher levels of autonomy and involvement in shared decision-making during childbirth. Health care teams have reported on the positive impact of shared decision-making on improving interdisciplinary communication, teamwork, and birth experiences and outcomes.
TeamBirth uses the Mother’s Autonomy in Decision-Making (MADM) scale to assess childbirth experiences. The evidence-based tool focuses on communication with the health care team, education on options for care, and involvement in decision making. 
We have collected feedback from over 1,300 NJ birthing people on their childbirth experiences. This chart looks at feedback from birthing people who reported they did not experience TeamBirth huddles (blue bars) and birthing people who reported they did experience TeamBirth huddles (orange bars). Across all items, autonomy and involvement in decisions is higher for birthing people who experienced TeamBirth.
Additionally, we are seeing similar trends across racial and ethnic groups. Furthermore, reduced variation between racial and ethnic groups is observed among those with exposure to TeamBirth. TeamBirth has been an effective model for highlighting and improving disparities in care.
