University Hospitals launches TeamBirth model across all labor and delivery locations

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals is enhancing maternity care by launching the TeamBirth model across all five of its labor and delivery locations this week. This innovative, patient-centered approach improves communication between expectant families and care teams to ensure every mother has a voice in her birth experience.

TeamBirth, developed by Ariadne Labs—a joint center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health—focuses on shared decision-making. The model includes structured “huddles” at critical points during the hospital stay: upon admission, during changes in the mother’s or baby’s condition, during delivery decisions, and whenever requested by the patient or a care team member.

“Our maternity teams at the five University Hospitals birthing centers strive to put the patient at the center of the circle of care,” said Stephanie Teal, MD, MPH, Obstetrician and Gynecologist-in-Chief at UH. “We are thrilled to implement TeamBirth across our network because it gives us a proven, innovative program to ensure that we actively listen to the patient’s voice throughout her birth experience.  This kind of shared decision-making will help us provide highest level of safety, equity, and dignity in childbearing.”

The huddles include not just medical staff, but also the patient’s chosen support people, such as spouses, partners, or doulas. Together, they collaborate to set expectations and make informed decisions throughout the birthing process—even if the plan needs to change.

TeamBirth will now be the standard of care at all five University Hospitals birthing centers:

• UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital at Cleveland Medical Center
• Steve and Loree Potash Women and Newborn Center at UH Ahuja Medical Center
• UH Geauga Medical Center
• UH St. John Medical Center
• UH TriPoint Medical Center

“When we first learned about TeamBirth we knew we wanted to integrate the program into our maternity services,” said Tyler Katz, MD, Medical Director of Labor & Delivery at UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital and leader of the TeamBirth initiative. “Our guiding principle is to provide patient-centered compassionate care, and this program emphasizes just that. Our goal is to keep patients safe, and to provide an exceptional birthing experience, and we believe TeamBirth will enhance our patients’ overall childbirth experience.” 

This expansion builds on University Hospitals’ legacy of innovation in maternity care. 2025 also marks the 15th anniversary of UH’s CenteringPregnancy program, where expectant mothers with similar due dates meet regularly for group prenatal care. Studies show that Centering participants experience lower rates of preterm birth, higher breastfeeding rates, and greater social support.