The UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is dedicated to improving outcomes for women through excellence in clinical care, research, and the education of future women’s health providers.

While most academic clinical departments maintain Quality Improvement (QI) committees focused on tracking complications, reviewing cases, and conducting Morbidity and Mortality conferences, few are structured to support the implementation of sustainable practice change.

To advance the quality and safety of the care we deliver, the department has established a dedicated Section of Quality and Patient Safety, which serves as an organizational framework designed to provide the leadership, structure, and strategic alignment necessary for success in these domains. This section serves as a key facilitator in achieving departmental and health system quality goals.

J. Michael Straughn, Jr., M.D., serves as Vice Chair of Quality and Departmental Value Officer, leading a team of faculty committed to implementing and promoting practice change. In his role as Departmental Value Officer, Straughn acts as a liaison between the Department of OB/GYN and UAB Medicine. Specifically, he oversees the medical directors responsible for executing quality and operational goals through their Accountable Care Teams (ACTs), collaborates with nursing dyad and triad partners, and escalates barriers as needed. He is responsible for overseeing the overall quality, appropriateness, efficiency, and effectiveness of clinical care within the scope of OB/GYN services. This role is instrumental in fostering collaboration and communication across the department, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and priorities.

The Executive Quality Committee (EQC)—comprising medical directors, key faculty, nursing leadership, and the Quality and Clinical Data Manager—guides departmental efforts to advance UAB’s core values of quality, patient safety, and clinical effectiveness.

The committee’s primary objectives are to:

• Improve the quality of care delivered to women
• Reduce clinical practice variation through the standardization of evidence-based care
• Optimize costs associated with care delivery

In collaboration with Kiersten Kennedy, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, and Leslie Hayes, M.D., Chief Medical and Quality Officer, and their team, the Departmental Value Officer and Medical Directors serve as vital liaisons between the department and UAB Medicine leadership on all matters related to patient care delivery within UAB clinical facilities.