Spotlight on Burr Ridge Birth Center in Burr Ridge, IL
A conversation with Director of Midwifery Sarah Stetina, CNM, APRN-FPA
When Burr Ridge Birth Center (BRBC) opened its doors in Spring 2021, it was only the third birth center in the state and the first in its county. With birth centers being a relatively new concept in the region, ensuring safety and fostering strong community relationships were at the heart of BRBC’s mission.
As part of this effort, the team recognized the importance of running drills to prepare for emergencies, build trust with EMS and hospital partners, and boost team confidence.
However, as BRBC’s Director of Midwifery Sarah Stetina explains, coordinating and executing drills presented a steep learning curve.
That’s when Step Up Together came into the picture. From initial motivations to measurable improvements, this interview offers a detailed look at how the program has transformed BRBC’s approach to safety, collaboration, and client care.
Q: What initially motivated Burr Ridge Birth Center to participate in the Step Up Together Action Collaborative?
A: I knew drills would be essential for troubleshooting system and process issues, building trust with our EMS and hospital partners, and increasing my team’s confidence. However, I had no experience coordinating and running drills at that point in my career.
When Amy Romano shared that Primary Maternity Care was launching the pilot Step Up Together program in Fall 2021, I jumped at the opportunity. I was excited to connect with other birth centers and access resources to refine this area of my role.
Q: Can you describe your overall experience with the Step Up Together program?
A: Overall, the Step Up Together program was a very positive experience. By the time I joined, our birth center had already run three mega drills—two before opening and one shortly after starting births. We also held monthly internal drill simulations. This prior experience allowed me to bring specific questions to the program and discuss challenges we were facing.
One of the most impactful aspects was the Drill Kit simulations the program provided. Before Step Up Together, I spent a lot of time creating scenarios and figuring out the best way to structure drill days. The simulations eliminated those struggles, making the process efficient and organized while giving me a template to create future scenarios.
I also appreciated the dedicated time with other birth center leaders. It was refreshing to connect with colleagues, share ideas, and brainstorm solutions. The program highlighted common struggles across birth centers while also helping me recognize areas where our center was succeeding.
Finally, the program gave me a clear framework for discussing safety, transfers, and drills with our EMS and hospital partners. This structure was key to building stronger buy-in from those teams.
Q: Since completing the program, have you continued to apply what you learned?
A: Since we opened in 2021, BRBC has completed nine mega drills as of Fall 2024. We conducted five of those drills in our first year, which was crucial for building trust with EMS and the hospital. These drills helped streamline communication, decrease transfer times, and improve emergency processes.
We now run 1-2 mega drills a year and have an agreement that either the birth center or hospital can request additional drills at any time if concerns or needs arise.
Q: Could you share any real-world examples where the drills made a difference?
A: The drills have brought so many tangible improvements. Here are a few examples:
- Faster NICU Transfers: Drills revealed delays in getting unstable infants to the NICU. After discussing this during a debrief, we decided that the NICU team would meet us in the ER bay to assess and stabilize the infant immediately, rather than having our team navigate the hospital.
- Streamlined Hospital Notifications: We discovered that having our CNM call the OB Hospitalist to notify of transfers created delays due to long phone calls and miscommunication. Now, we call the L&D RN directly for brief information-sharing, while the CNM provides a full SBAR report to the OB Hospitalist on arrival.
- EMS Equipment Familiarity: During a drill, we practiced using our neo-wrap, a kangaroo wrap for securing mother and infant during EMS transport. The exercise helped us address sizing and application issues and allowed EMS to become familiar with accommodating the device on their stretcher straps.
Q: Have you seen noticeable changes in safety, teamwork, or patient care outcomes?
A: Absolutely. Each drill is a safe opportunity to try new approaches, make mistakes, and learn. As a result, each transfer is smoother and safer than the last.
The biggest change has been the teamwork between our birth center team and EMS. Paramedics, midwives, and nurses now operate as a cohesive team, showcasing their skills to serve clients. We’ve also noticed the hospital team gaining greater trust in our birth center’s capabilities, which has been incredibly rewarding.
Q: What would you say to other birth centers or professionals considering joining Step Up Together?
A: I highly recommend Step Up Together for all birth centers, even those already running drills. The program provides a neutral space to explore improvements, troubleshoot challenges, and build relationships with EMS and hospital systems.
Hospital and EMS teams are not always friendly to birth centers, but this program creates opportunities for collaboration and trust-building. At the end of the day, birth is safest when birth centers, EMS, and hospitals work together seamlessly, and Step Up Together provides the tools and framework to make that happen.
