The Gift
What is The Gift?
The Gift is an evidence-based quality improvement and designation program that provides tools, training and coaching to support Louisiana birthing facilities with safe, patient-centered implementation of best practices recognized around the world to improve breastfeeding and infant feeding outcomes.
The Gift uses comprehensive tools, training and quality improvement science to improve maternal and infant morbidity and mortality outcomes in Louisiana. Hospital coaching activities include collaborative learning coaching calls, topic calls and one-on-one hospital quality improvement planning (charter chats) focused on safe and patient-centered implementation of best practices related to infant feeding and birth parent-infant attachment.
Participating hospitals teams report on key measures to monitor improvements and use best practices related to the accurate and consistent collection of data focused on building transparent systems that create routine conversations with patients about their individual preferences, needs and values and makes sure that patient values are a priority.
The Gift was launched in 2006 to improve breastfeeding outcomes. Today, in its third version, 39 of 46 birthing hospitals in Louisiana have achieved and maintained Gift or Gift Shining Star designation. Analyses of Louisiana Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data found that breastfeeding outcomes are higher for patients who gave birth at Gift-designated birthing facilities.
Initiatives
The Gift
The primary home for neonatal and mother-baby care best practice implementation, including breastfeeding and parent-infant bonding.
Safe Births Initiative
The primary home for the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health bundle of implementation and perinatal outcomes work.
Obstetric Readiness in Emergency Departments
Supports emergency departments to improve readiness for obstetric emergencies.
Caregiver Perinatal Depression Screening
Supports pediatric practices in screening and establishing referral pathways for caregivers impacted by postpartum depression.
Community Birth Initiative
Supports freestanding birth centers and community birth providers with readiness and response to maternal and neonatal emergencies.