Presented By: Vicki Lombardo, M.S.N., RN
June 2014

The March of Dimes Preterm Labor Assessment Toolkit is a standardized methodology for assessing women when they present to L&D with a chief complaint of contractions prior to 37 weeks gestation. Implementation of the standards contained in the toolkit have been shown to reduce unnecessary treatment and hospitalizations, assist in the right-timing of antenatal corticosteroid administration, timely transport of women to a higher level of care and cost savings for the hospital.

Objectives:

• Discuss the scale and impact of preterm birth
• Describe how timely assessment can improve neonatal and long-term child health outcomes
• Identify how the March of Dimes Preterm Labor Assessment Toolkit improves quality of care through evidence-based, standardized pathways