JPS Health Network proudly announces the launch of the TeamBirth maternity care program, becoming one of the first hospitals in Texas to implement this nationally recognized initiative. TeamBirth is designed to transform communication and collaboration during labor and delivery, placing patients and their families at the heart of the birthing experience. The hospital launched the kicked off with a special event held at John Peter Smith Hospital today.
TeamBirth is a proven, evidence-based model that empowers patients and their support teams to play an active role in decision-making throughout the birth process. By prioritizing quality, safety, and shared decision-making, the program ensures patients’ voices are central to care plans, fostering transparency and respect in every aspect of labor and delivery. TeamBirth was introduced to north Texas through the United Way of Tarrant County who spearheaded the effort to engage hospital leadership.
“Bringing TeamBirth to JPS Health Network reflects our commitment to providing the highest level of patient-centered care,” said Karen Duncan, MD, President and CEO of JPS Health Network. “By giving expectant mothers and their families a greater voice and role in the birthing process, we are enhancing both safety and satisfaction in maternity care.”
The TeamBirth process involves structured team huddles at critical decision points during labor, a shared planning tool to ensure clarity and alignment, and continuous communication between patients and care teams from admission through postpartum care.
“The ability to foster open, consistent communication between clinicians and patients is essential to achieving the best possible outcomes in maternity care,” said Phyllis Chambers-Berry, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, SVP & Chief Nursing Officer at JPS Health Network. “TeamBirth not only strengthens teamwork but ensures every family feels heard, respected, and confident in the care they receive.”
“Team Birth is a tool that will help give patients what they need and deserve the most: to be seen and heard. Team Birth will truly engage patients to be an active and engaged participant in their care team because all voices matter,” added Stephanie Carson-Henderson, MD, Chair of Women & Infants at JPS.
“TeamBirth at JPS is a testament to collaboration and the dedication of clinicians who care deeply about the health and well-being of mothers and babies. With evidence-based training and the commitment of our nurses and medical teams, we’re addressing critical challenges like high infant mortality rates and improving outcomes for the most vulnerable. Together, we’re shaping a better future for Fort Worth and Tarrant County, “said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker who attended the kick-off event and lauded the team for their commitment to enhancing maternity care.
JPS Health Network joins a growing number of hospitals nationwide adopting TeamBirth as part of their commitment to improving maternal health and reducing disparities in birth outcomes. This initiative aligns with broader efforts at JPS to lower maternal mortality rates and provide equitable, high-quality care to all patients, regardless of background or circumstance.
TeamBirth was developed by Ariadne Labs, a joint center for health systems innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The model was created in collaboration with experts from leading obstetric organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
In clinical trials at four U.S. hospitals, involving hundreds of clinicians and tens of thousands of families, 79 percent of patients reported that their preferences influenced the care they received, 87 percent felt they had the role they desired in labor-related decisions, and 94 percent said their care team communicated in ways they could understand.
For more information about TeamBirth at JPS Health Network, please visit https://www.jpshealthnet.org/get-care/services/women-infants.