For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Ann Campbell
cacampbell@njhcqi.org (973-567-1901)
TEAMBIRTH MODEL GROWS IN NEW JERSEY WITH 14 ADDITIONAL HOSPITALS PARTICIPATING IN 2025
Seven Hospitals Implemented TeamBirth Earlier This Year; Additional Facilities Now Preparing to Join Statewide Initiative
October 21, 2025
TRENTON, New Jersey — TeamBirth, a nationally recognized evidence-based model that enhances the safety and overall experience of childbirth, continues its expansion across New Jersey. Six additional hospitals began implementing TeamBirth earlier this year, while another seven are actively preparing to launch the program this Fall, bringing the total number of participating hospitals and birthing centers in the state to 26.
In New Jersey, the Quality Institute, in partnership with Ariadne Labs and with support from the New Jersey Department of Health, is leading statewide implementation. The goal is for every hospital and birthing center in the state to offer TeamBirth.
In TeamBirth, patients join their care team in regular huddles to discuss preferences and concerns, review labor progress, adjust plans, and set the next check-in. Notes are recorded on a shared planning board, listing the full team, including the patient and their support person(s), and highlighting care plans and patient preferences. Each person’s preferences are heard and respected.
“We know breakdowns in communication and teamwork often are the cause of patient injuries and harm. TeamBirth can help create a safe birth environment where patients become participants in their care — and not merely recipients of care,” said Adelisa Perez-Hudgins, MSN, RN, Chief of Quality at the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute.
The seven New Jersey hospitals launching this Fall, 2025, are:
- Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center — Summit
- Englewood Hospital — Englewood
- Hackensack Meridian Health Riverview Medical Center — Red Bank
- Holy Name Medical Center — Teaneck
- RWJBarnabas Health Community Medical Center — Toms River
- St. Joseph’s University Medical Center — Paterson
- The Valley Hospital — Ridgewood
Hospitals That Implemented TeamBirth Earlier in 2025, include:
- Capital Health Medical Center — Hopewell
- Hackensack Meridian Health JFK University Medical Center — Edison
- Inspira Medical Center — Mullica Hill
- Inspira Medical Center — Vineland
- Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center — Princeton
- RWJBarnabas Health Trinitas Regional Medical Center — Elizabeth
TeamBirth has already been in New Jersey for nearly four years. Data collected so far from nearly 4,000 individuals who gave birth in New Jersey highlights improvements in childbirth experiences. Surveys of patients who experienced TeamBirth found:
- 91% felt involved in decision-making
- 92% felt informed about options for their care
- 95% felt they understood the information given to them
- 95% felt their choice was respected
By comparison, patients who did not experience TeamBirth reported much lower rates, ranging from 75% to 83% across the same measures.
Leaders at these participating hospitals emphasize how TeamBirth improves communication, builds trust, leads to safer outcomes, and promotes more respectful care.
“By adopting TeamBirth, we are deepening the trust between patients and their care teams, ensuring that every voice is heard during one of life’s most important moments,” said Dr. Vasantha Kondamudi, Chief Medical Officer and Designated Institutional Officer at Holy Name Medical Center.
At Valley Hospital, Lydia Raymond, BSN, RNC, said, “TeamBirth is a great way to keep everyone updated, especially the patient, so we are all on the same page.”
Zezzlie Viray, M.D., a Nursery Hospitalist at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, said, “When parents feel heard and respected in labor, they begin their journey with confidence, trust, and partnership that supports a healthy start for the whole family.”
Riverview Medical Center’s OBGYN Services shared, “We’re thrilled to bring the TeamBirth initiative to Riverview. It’s a structured approach that ensures the patient, their loved ones, and the clinical team are all on the same page.”
For more information, including a list of participating TeamBirth hospitals, please visit https://njhcqi.info/sdm or contact the Quality Institute at info@njhcqi.org.
About the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
The New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the safety, quality, and affordability of health care. Since 1997, we have led statewide efforts to transform health care by bringing together our diverse members — including health systems, insurers, providers, consumer groups, and employers — to find solutions grounded in evidence and collaboration.
Our work spans policy development, quality improvement, and community health initiatives that advance evidence-based policies and champion best practices. Our Mayors Wellness Campaign drives community health and wellness in partnership with 400 New Jersey mayors. With a membership of more than 120 organizations, the Quality Institute serves as a trusted convener working to advance meaningful change in New Jersey health care.