The Critical Care Obstetrics Podcast
Health, Fitness & Longevity
About
Your trusted resource for everything to do with high-risk and critical care obstetrics. Our experienced, interprofessional team shares insights from years of practice, simulation, and team training—making complex topics simple and easy to understand. Sometimes it’s just us, sometimes it’s guests, and sometimes it’s case reviews—always with the goal of helping you provide the best care. Thanks for listening!
Episodes
- Why OB belongs in OB emergencies in the ED: our review of "The Pitt"
Navigating the Challenges of Free Birth: Insights from the Critical Care Obstetrics Podcast ** Discover the complexities of free birth and the challenges faced in emergency settings. Learn from experts in maternal-fetal medicine about pati…
- OB Patients in an Adult ED: Interview with Jen Hamilton
In today’s episode, we dive into the world of birth plans with Jen Hamilton, an OB nurse and soon-to-be author of *Birth Vibes*. She shares her journey from the ED to OB, revealing the challenges of navigating patients’ expectations in lab…
- Policies vs Practice: Why They Don't Match (and Why That Matters)
### Key Takeaways - Policies must be easily accessible to all healthcare providers. - Understanding the difference between policies, guidelines, and protocols is crucial for effective patient care. - Ongoing training and communication are…
- Minor Trauma in the ED
Having a pregnant patient arrive to an adult ED after minor trauma presents several challenges for care teams. Maternal and fetal assessment with communication between the adult ED and OB teams is needed. In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Mar…
- Recognizing Green Flags in Obstetrics
Did you know that the presence of a stethoscope on every caregiver is a huge green flag? 🎧 In our latest episode, we discuss how visible engagement in patient care can transform outcomes! When every team member prioritizes assessment, we…
- Recognizing Red Flags in Healthcare
The insights shared in this podcast episode underscore the importance of vigilance in healthcare settings. Recognizing red flags—whether they pertain to patient care, workplace culture, or system processes—can significantly enhance patient…
- What "Can Do" Culture Can Do in Healthcare, Part 2
Summary: In this episode of the Critical Care Obstetrics podcast, the hosts discuss the implications of a 'can-do' culture in healthcare, particularly in obstetrics. They explore how this attitude can lead to workarounds that, while initia…
- What "Can Do" can do to your unit
In this episode of the Critical Care Obstetrics podcast, Dr. Stephanie Martin and her colleagues discuss the concept of 'Can-Do Culture' in healthcare, particularly in obstetrics. They explore personal stories that illustrate the challenge…
- When a Mother Dies Pt. 2
The conversation also addresses the moral distress clinicians experience when a mother dies. This episode is for anyone who cares for pregnant or postpartum patients and wants to be better prepared—not just clinically, but emotionally and…
- When a Mother Dies Pt.1
In this episode of the Critical Care Obstetrics podcast, Dr. Stephanie Martin and Suzanne Baird discuss the sensitive and critical topic of maternal mortality. They share a case study of a young mother with chronic hypertension, exploring…
- Resuscitative Cesarean Case Review
In this episode of the Critical Care Obstetrics podcast, Dr. Stephanie Martin and Julie Arafey discuss a complex case involving a pregnant patient who experiences respiratory compromise leading to cardiac arrest. They explore the challenge…
- Inter-professional Practice
In this episode of the Critical Care Obstetrics podcast, Julie Arafeh discusses the significance of interprofessional training in simulation sessions for healthcare teams, particularly in obstetrics. She emphasizes the necessity of includi…
- Interview with Hospitalist Courtney Martin
In this episode of the Critical Care Obstetrics podcast, Dr. Courtney Martin discusses her role as an OB hospitalist and the evolving landscape of obstetric care. She emphasizes the importance of proactive measures in maternal safety, the…
- Using Deliberate Practice to Develop Team Skills
In this episode of the Critical Care Obstetrics podcast, Julie Arafeh discusses the significance of deliberate practice and team skills in managing high-risk obstetric emergencies. She emphasizes the importance of simulation training to en…
- Pet Peeves in Healthcare: Stephanie's Perspective (Austin: 3rd release)
Summary: In this episode of the Critical Care Obstetrics Podcast, hosts Stephanie Martin, Julie Arafey, and Suzanne McMurtry Baird discuss their pet peeves in obstetrics. The conversation covers issues related to documentation, unnecessary…
- Pet Peeves in Healthcare: Suzanne's Perspective
In this episode of the Critical Care Obstetrics Podcast, hosts Stephanie Martin, Julie Arafeh, and Suzanne McMurtry Baird discuss Suzanne's pet peeves in obstetrics. The conversation covers issues related to documentation, unnecessary inte…
- Pet Peeves in Healthcare: Julie's Perspective
In this episode of the Critical Care Obstetrics podcast, hosts Stephanie Martin, Julie Arafeh, and Suzanne McMurtry Baird discuss their pet peeves related to healthcare and critical care obstetrics. They emphasize the importance of accurat…
- From Nurse to Patient: A Unique Perspective
In this episode, Stephanie Martin and Suzanne McMurtry Baird speak with Nicolette Lewis, a labor and delivery nurse who shares her harrowing experience of nearly dying during childbirth due to a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm. Nicolette…
- Lessons Learned from a Sepsis Case: Conflict Resolution
In this episode of the Critical Care Obstetrics podcast, hosts Stephanie Martin, Suzanne Baird, and Julie Arafeh discuss a complex case involving a postpartum patient experiencing sepsis. They emphasize the importance of clear communicatio…
- Cesarean Section is Major Abdominal Surgery
Cesarean Delivery: Major Abdominal Surgery Welcome back to The Critical Care Obstetrics Podcast with hosts Suzanne McMurtry Baird (Nursing Director) and Stephanie Martin (Medical Director) of Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics. In this episod…
- Rural Care, Real Challenges: Telehealth & Critical Obstetrics
In this episode of The Critical Care Obstetrics Podcast, Dr. Stephanie Martin sits down with Dr. Lexi Hill, an MFM specialist delivering high-risk pregnancy care via Telehealth to rural communities across the country. They discuss: ✅ The r…
- Acute Anxiety in Obstetrics
In this episode Stephanie and Suzanne discuss acute onset of anxiety in an OB patient. They will also talk about possible pathology of anxiety and the possibility as a warning sign of compromise. The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetr…
- Listener Q&A Part 4: ARDS and Cardiomyopathy
In this episode, Julie, Suzanne, and Stephanie answer the listeners' questions regarding acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and Cardiomyopathy. These 2 diagnoses can appear with similar symptoms. The experts at Clinical Concepts in…
- Listener Questions Part 3: AFE versus Pulmonary Embolus
In this episode, Julie, Stephanie, and Suzanne answer the listeners question of how to differentiate between signs, symptoms, and diagnosis of an AFE v. a PE The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience c…
- Communication in Obstetric Emergencies
Julie Arafeh and Dr. Stephanie Martin discuss 3 commonly encountered issues with communication during obstetric emergencies. The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant…
- Role of Doula in High-Risk Pregnancies: Interview with HeHe Stewart
In this episode Stephanie talks with HeHe Stewart, a Birth Doula aiming to help women avoid birth trauma & prepare for a confident and informed hospital birth. She has her own podcast The Birth Lounge and an active social media presence ed…
- Listener Q and A: Hypertensive Disorders
Julie, Stephanie and Suzanne address listener questions posted about hypertensive disorders. We address questions about treatment of refractory severe hypertension, medication protocols, use of magnesium and delivery timing questions. The…
- Listener Q and A: Obstetric Hemorrhage
Julie, Stephanie and Suzanne address listener questions posted about obstetric hemorrhage. We talk about transfusion thresholds, vital signs in hemorrhage, QBL, postpartum monitoring and many other aspects of hemorrhage management and reco…
- Debrief: Peripartum Cardiomyopathy or Preeclampsia with Severe Features
The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women to discuss the challenges encountered in caring for these vulnerable women. Dr Stephanie Martin is the Medical Directo…
- Diagnostic Dilemma: Peripartum Cardiomyopathy or Preeclampsia with Severe Features
https://professional.heart.org/en/education/role-of-cardiovascular-health-in-maternal-health/#preeclampsia The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women to discuss…
- Obstetrics Scope of Service
In this episode, Julie Arafeh and Suzanne McMurtry Baird discuss scope of services for obstetrics. A scope of services outlines the patients you will care for and those who would be transferred or transported to a higher level of care. Thi…
- Debrief of Sepsis Survivor Interview
The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women to discuss the challenges encountered in caring for these vulnerable women. Dr Stephanie Martin is the Medical Directo…
- Eclampsia: What's Your Management Plan?
In this episode, Suzanne and Stephanie talk about how to be prepared and manage an eclamptic patient. We give 3 scenarios of eclampsia to stimulate thought about where and how you would manage. The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetric…
- Would You Have Sent this Patient Home? Interview with a Sepsis Survivor and Advocate.
Dr Stephanie Martin talks with Andrea, a patient, survivor of postpartum septic shock and advocate. Hear her incredible story and decide how you would have handled things differently. https://www.endsepsis.org/about-rory-staunton/ https://…
- Vital Signs are Vital: Temperature
In the last vital signs are vital series, Dr. Stephanie Martin and Suzanne McMurtry Baird discuss maternal temperature. Understand the WHY and conditions of hypothermia and hyperthermia. The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool…
- Vital Signs are Vital: SpO2
Dr. Stephanie Martin and Suzanne McMurtry Baird discuss the technology of pulse oximetry. Understand the WHY of SpO2 values. The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant…
- Vital Signs are Vital: Respiratory Rate
In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Martin and Dr. Suzanne McMurtry Baird discuss the importance of taking a respiratory rate and understanding the WHY of a low or high rate. The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of…
- Vital Signs are Vital: Blood Pressure
This is the 2nd podcast in our series on Vital Signs are Vital. Tune in to hear Dr. Stephanie Martin and Dr. Suzanne McMurtry Baird discussing blood pressure. We will go over hypotension, hypertension, and understanding the WHY. The expert…
- Vital Signs are Vital: Heart Rate
This is the first episode in our series "Vital Signs are Vital". In this episode we discuss the significance of heart rate in the assessment of vital signs. The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience ca…
- The Critical Care Obstetrics Academy
The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women to discuss the challenges encountered in caring for these vulnerable women. Dr Stephanie Martin is the Medical Directo…
- How to do an Effective Recap in Simulation and Actual Emergencies
Julie and Stephanie explain what a recap is and how it can be used to communicate effectively during simulation and during actual emergencies. The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for criti…
- A Diagnostic Dilemma: Was It Amniotic Fluid Embolism, Sepsis, or Pulmonary Embolism?
Suzanne and Stephanie review another maternal death situation and discuss what they think happened. Listen and decide what you think it was. The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critica…
- Examining the Impact: Insights from a Maternal Mortality Review Committee
In this episode, Dr Stephanie Martin has a discussion with Jamie Agunsday, MA, MSN, RNC-OB, a nurse abstractor for the New Jersey Maternal Mortality Review Committee. We talk about what is an MMRC, how maternal deaths are reviewed and the…
- Professional Behavior: You Know It When You See It
Stephanie and Julie talk about a key team skill - professional behavior. We discuss why it matters, how it can show up in emergencies and impact patient care, morale and even ability to hire and retain staff. We also talk about how to use…
- Maintaining Situation Awareness During an Emergency
Stephanie and Julie discuss the importance of situation awareness during emergencies. Julie talks about what situation awareness means, the key components of patient, team and environment and how to address challenges using real life examp…
- What is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist and When do I Need One?
Dr Stephanie Martin explains the specialty of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. She discusses the types of training MFMs get, the conditions they treat and when you might need to consult one. The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool thei…
- A Case Study of Preeclampsia and Pulmonary Edema: Why Can't We Get This Right?
In this case study, Dr. Stephanie Martin and Dr. Suzanne McMurtry Baird discuss a patient with preeclampsia who develops severe range BPs and pulmonary edema. While you listen, determine which signs and symptoms that indicate pulmonary ede…
- I LOVE URINE - Especially in Patients with Preeclampsia!
In this episode, Dr. Suzanne McMurtry Baird discusses oliguria in patients diagnosed with preeclampsia. She will outline 3 hemodynamic categories that may cause preeclampsia in this patient population and the rationale for use of a Foley c…
- Recording actual patient care for Quality Improvement: Coming to a hospital near you?
Hospitals have been recording actual patient events for quality improvement in some departments for years and the practice is spreading to other departments. What is involved with recording actual events and what effect might it have on pa…
- Informed Consent is More Than a Piece of Paper
Dr Stephanie Martin discusses the key components of informed consent with an emphasis of shifting beyond the concept of informed consent solely as a signature on a form. The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of…