The Washington State Hospital Association recognized Whidbey Family Birthplace at Whidbey General Hospital for quality improvement work in 2014, according to a recent news release.

Trish Nilsen, BSN, RNC-OB, Whidbey Family Birthplace manager and Dennis Wagner of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, were joined by Seattle Seahawk mascot Blitz at a celebration last month in Seattle. The celebration was a recognition of the successful efforts to decrease labor inductions and cesarean sections at the hospital, according to the release.

In order to achieve this decrease, Whidbey General Hospital participated in the Leading Edge Advance Practice Topic project, a collaborative effort between selected hospitals, Washington State Hospital Association and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Nilsen and OB providers Dr. Robert Burnett and Sarah Meyer, CNM, coordinated their Leading Edge Advance Practice Topic efforts, according to the release.

Nilsen will be presenting Whidbey Family Birthplace’s work at the national American Association of Women’s Health and Neonatal Nursing convention in Long Beach, Calif. in June.

Whidbey Family Birthplace’s success story was also featured on NPR and the team was invited to participate in a film by Washington State Hospital Association to encourage other Washington hospitals in improving their obstetrical care programs, according to the press release.

Leading Edge Advance Practice Topic is a program that seeks to generate measurable improvements in 12 emerging areas of healthcare within one year. Statewide, Leading Edge Advance Practice Topic supports numerous initiatives with achievements including reductions in infections, mortality and employee injury, according to the news release.