Planning a Collaborative Conference to Provide Interdisciplinary Education With a Focus on Patient Safety in Obstetrics

Collaboration is an important component of evidence‐based practice in modern health care. A number of publications have touted the benefits of “team training” to improve obstetric outcomes during emergent situations. In August 2011, the Ohio sections of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) held a joint conference that focused on interdisciplinary education to promote patient safety. This joint venture drew more than 120 attendees, 12 exhibitors and 17 poster displays. Evaluations were positive and attendees cited planned practice changes for themselves as well as for their respective institutions.