The overarching goals of the BCQI Initiative include learning and sharing with each other’s birth certificate data entry processes proven successful with increasing accuracy and timeliness, as well as disseminating and developing educational materials for sustained birth certificate data training for hospital staff.

Throughout the year, we explored process improvement interventions:

• Identifying an improvement team at each hospital
• identifying steps currently taking at each hospital for birth certificate data collection using a process workflow diagram to ensure team members understand current processes.
• Ensuring staff entering birth certificate data have access to necessary clinical data
• Educating and training on how to enter birth certificate data.

Recent Learning Series

• Session 1
  • Why is the Birth Certificate Important to Birthing People, Newborns, and  our Hospital? (Recording)
  • Why is the Birth Certificate Important to Birthing People, Newborns, and Your Hospital? Presentation Slides (PDF)
• Session 2
  • Partnering Across Department to Improve Accuracy of 11 Key Variables (Recording)
  • Partnering Across Departments to Improve Accuracy of 11 Key Variables Presentation Slides (PDF)
• Session 3
  • Tools to Improve Reporting Accuracy of 11 Key Variables (Recording)
  • Tools to Improve Reporting Accuracy of 11 Key Variables Slides Presentation (PDF)
• Session 4
  • Identify and Spread Best Practices for Data Collection: Verification and Training (Recording)
  • Identify and Spread Best Practices for Data Collection: Verification and Training Presentation Slides (PDF) 

Vital Statistics and Birth Certificate Education Resources Available for Hospital Teams

• BCQII Definitions & Data Entry Tip Sheet for Hospitals (DOC)
  • This document provides an overview of 11 key variables under review for this QI project including variable definitions, tips for entry, and space for hospitals to add in their own team/EMR specific sources and instructions.
• Vermont Department of Health Vital Records Phone Number:  802-863-7275
  • This document provides information on all terms and questions within the Birth Certificate Worksheet, including variable definitions, specific instructions for completing each item, source information along with key words and abbreviations.
    • CDC Guide to Completing Birth Certificate Worksheets (PDF)
• CDC Online Training for Completing Birth Certificate Worksheets: Applying Best Practices for Reporting Medical and Health Information on Birth Certificates
• Either document below can be used to record within-hospital audits. Either version can be used. Extra rows at the bottom of the form can be used for other indicators chosen within the hospital teams.
  • Data Reporting Checklist (PDF)
  • Data Reporting Checklist (XLS)