§ 2999-m. New York state hospital quality initiative. The New York
state hospital quality initiative, including the New York state
obstetrical patient safety workgroup, will be created in the department
of health to be comprised of medical, hospital and academic experts and
other stakeholders chosen by the commissioner.

The New York state quality initiative will oversee the general
dissemination of initiatives, guidance, and best practices to general
hospitals. Activities will include but not be limited to: building
cultures of patient safety and implementing evidence based care in
target areas. The workgroup will undertake collaborative work to improve
obstetrical care outcomes and quality of care, based on identifying and
implementing evidence based practices, and clinical protocols that can
be standardized and adopted by hospitals including but not limited to:

(a) Surveying, reviewing and analyzing current "best" practices
employed in obstetrical cases, including exploring the use of "virtual
grand rounds";

(b) Undertaking a review of claims in an effort to develop a set of
"standard best practices" for deliveries in New York state;

(c) Formulating and recommending to the commissioner best practice
standards and designing new programs for implementation and improved
outcomes, including but not limited to, clinical bundles for high
priority conditions, electronic fetal monitoring training and
certification, and team training; and

(d) Engaging the existing regional perinatal center network in
dialogues regarding the above topics and making recommendations to
improve and/or upgrade assistance and communication to smaller
hospitals.