Implementation of a new birth record in three hospitals in Jordan: a study of health system improvement

This study tested the introduction of a new integrated clinical record in Jordan where currently no clinical report links antenatal, birth and postnatal care for women. As a result, no continuity of information is provided to clinicians nor are there national statistics on trends, or performance of hospitals around birth. Our study was conducted in the Jordanian Ministry of Health, the maternity wards and registration departments of three hospitals in Jordan and in the Maternal and Child Health Centres located near these hospitals. We used an exploratory, descriptive design and practice-research engagement to investigate and report on the process of change to improve and implement the new birth record. Through engaging practitioners in research, care improved, the quality of reporting changed, managers developed more effective measures of hospital performance and policy makers were provided with information that could form the basis of a national maternity data monitoring system. Quantitative and qualitative audit data demonstrated improved clinical reporting, organizational development and sustained commitment to the new record from clinicians, managers and policy leaders.