North American Proceedings in Gynecology and Obstetrics - Supplemental
Improving Provider Efficiency Through Revised Postpartum Rounding Criteria: A Quality Improvement Study
By Sophia Han, Kimberly Lee, Joanna Stark and 2 others.
Abstract
Objective
To determine whether changing a previously arbitrary postpartum rounding cutoff time from 2 AM to midnight improves provider utilization and rounding efficiency without increasing postpartum readmission rates.
Methods
This is a quality improvement project implemented on September 1, 2025, at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara (KPSC). Post-implementation data were collected from September 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026, from KPSC electronic medical records and survey results completed by KPSC Labor and Delivery providers, including resident physicians, attending physicians, and certified nurse-midwives (CNMs). The total number of patients who delivered between midnight and 2 AM during this timeframe was compared with the number of patients who delivered between midnight and 2 AM and were discharged on postpartum day 0. The average provider rounding time was then multiplied by the number of patients who delivered between midnight and 2 AM and were not discharged on postpartum day 0 to determine the total rounding time saved by this intervention. Postpartum readmission rates were assessed as a balancing measure.