§ 2999-m. New York state hospital quality initiative. The New York state hospital quality initiative, including the New York state obstetrical patient safety workgroup, will be created in the department of health to be comprised of medical, hospital and academic experts and other stakeholders chosen by the commissioner. The New York state quality initiative will oversee the general dissemination of initiatives, guidance, and best practices to general hospitals. Activities will include but not be limited to: building cultures of patient safety and implementing evidence based care in target areas. The workgroup will undertake collaborative work to improve obstetrical care outcomes and quality of care, based on identifying and implementing evidence based practices, and clinical protocols that can be standardized and adopted by hospitals including but not limited to:

(a) Surveying, reviewing and analyzing current "best" practices employed in obstetrical cases, including exploring the use of "virtual grand rounds";

(b) Undertaking a review of claims in an effort to develop a set of "standard best practices" for deliveries in New York state;

(c) Formulating and recommending to the commissioner best practice standards and designing new programs for implementation and improved outcomes, including but not limited to, clinical bundles for high priority conditions, electronic fetal monitoring training and certification, and team training; and

(d) Engaging the existing regional perinatal center network in dialogues regarding the above topics and making recommendations to improve and/or upgrade assistance and communication to smaller hospitals.