Development of the Optimality Index as a New Approach to Evaluating Outcomes of Maternity Care

Evaluating perinatal outcomes within a framework of normalcy is a new focus of measurement. As maternal and child health clinicians and researchers look to evaluate care practices that are both of high quality and cost‐effective, it is important to have measurement tools that assess differences among all women giving birth. The Optimality Index‐USshifts the focus from rare adverse events to evidence‐based optimal events. This article describes the continuing development of the index and discusses clinical implications for obstetric nurse clinicians. JOGNN,35, 770‐778; 2006. DOI: 10.1111/J.1552‐6909.2006.00105.x