Improvement in documentation using an electronic checklist for shoulder dystocia deliveries.

OBJECTIVE To estimate if using an electronic checklist improved the documentation of shoulder dystocias that occurred at our institution. METHODS A standard checklist of key elements that should be included in the delivery note after a shoulder dystocia was added to the electronic delivery note at our institution. We identified shoulder dystocia deliveries from the department's delivery database for 3 years before and after the checklist was included and compared delivery notes written from these time periods with respect to their content. RESULTS Forty-six shoulder dystocia deliveries were identified before the checklist being available and 82 after. There was a significant increase noted in the frequency with which several elements were documented after the checklist was implemented including McRoberts maneuver (before checklist 69%, compared with after checklist 90%, P=.003), head-to-body interval (22% compared with 84%, P<.001), which shoulder was anterior (48% compared with 96%, P<.001), and if the neonate was moving its arms after delivery (50% compared with 93%, P<.001). CONCLUSION Use of a standard checklist for shoulder dystocia in the delivery note resulted in a significant improvement in the documentation of several critical elements. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II.