Obstetric Emergency Readiness Makes a Difference at Rural Hospital

September 08, 2025

This year, HAP released an action plan for Pennsylvania hospitals and policymakers to improve maternal health quality, equity, and access. Ahead of our inaugural maternal health summit, we’re spotlighting promising practices and innovations that Pennsylvania hospitals have implemented to improve care for moms and babies.

As a seasoned medical professional, Kim Schell knows the importance of keeping her skills sharp, especially for critical procedures that may only be performed a few times a year.

Schell is the chief nursing officer and vice president, patient services at Titusville Area Hospital, a facility in Crawford County that serves a rural community of about 5,000 people. While the hospital no longer has an obstetric department, it partners with Meadville Medical Center to offer OB-GYN services. As a critical access hospital, Titusville must be prepared to perform deliveries and respond to pregnancy-related emergencies in its department. The hospital’s emergency department team delivers three to five babies a year.

“Everyone gets nervous when a mother shows up in the ER,” said Schell.

With that in mind, the hospital developed a training program to keep the staff’s skills honed and provide peace of mind for all involved. Through a partnership with an insurance organization and a local doctor, a simulation model was secured for training to refresh the team’s skills and stay on-point. The hands-on training is presented annually but is recorded so staff may review materials as often as desired.

Here are a few key takeaways:

• An ounce of prevention:  Staff train on both normal and complicated deliveries, such as shoulder dystocia, breech presentation, nuchal cord, and cord prolapse. An OB-GYN also works with the emergency department team to update its procedures and recommendations for maternal and infant care.
• Everybody wins:  Not only are the trainings effective, but holding them on site saves staff time and hospital resources. “This is a cost-effective way to provide training without having to leave town,” said Schell.
• Positive feedback:  The trainings have been well received by staff, who are eager to stay up to date with the latest recommendations and information available, said Schell.

“A breech presentation isn’t something you see every day,” Schell explained. Hands-on training is invaluable in providing care for mothers and becomes part of muscle memory. “It makes for a better learning experience,” she said.

HAP’s Maternal Health Summit, September 24 in Harrisburg, will bring together health care leaders and community partners to share current strategies, programs, and innovations driving maternal health improvement within their organizations and communities. Learn more and register online.