# Confronting the Willful Blind Spot in Maternal Care
> A deep dive into the disconnect in hospital leadership and patient care.
In this episode of the Critical Care Obstetrics Podcast, Stephanie Martin and Suzanne Baird tackle a crucial yet often overlooked issue in maternal care: the disconnect between hospital leadership and bedside realities. As they discuss the phenomenon they term the "willful blind spot," they highlight the frustrations felt by those at the front lines of care and explore the reasons behind the lack of action from administration.
## The Willful Blind Spot
Stephanie opens the conversation by addressing a pressing concern: why does it seem that hospital leadership often turns a blind eye to the critical issues faced by clinicians? She notes that while those working directly with patients are acutely aware of the problems, solutions often remain elusive.
> "Everybody's afraid of the lawsuit," says Suzanne. This fear creates a culture where leadership hesitates to make necessary changes, fearing that doing so might be seen as an admission of guilt. Instead, they wait until lawsuits are resolved, leaving vulnerable patients at risk in the meantime.
The podcast reflects on a significant 2018 **USA Today** article by Alison Young, titled "Hospitals Know How to Protect Mothers. They Just Aren't Doing It." This piece resonated with both hosts, highlighting that despite knowing how to improve care, systemic inertia continues to hinder progress.
## The Role of Silos
A recurring theme in their discussion is the damaging effects of silos within healthcare systems. Clinicians often operate in isolation, unaware of ongoing lawsuits or changes being discussed at higher levels. This disconnection not only affects care but also contributes to a culture where learning from past mistakes is stymied.
Stephanie emphasizes that "being present physically and doing a lot of things doesn't necessarily mean that you provided standard of care or even good care." This highlights the need for an integrated approach where feedback from frontline workers is actively sought and acted upon.
## Financial Constraints as a Barrier
Financial considerations also play a pivotal role in the decisions made by hospital administrations. As Stephanie points out, obstetric services are not typically profit centers for hospitals. This leads to a reluctance to invest in necessary training or changes that could enhance safety, as budget constraints take precedence.
> "The OB service line doesn't have a budget for that. Yet you've got the hospital as a whole is highly profitable," she remarks, pointing to the disparity in resource allocation.
## Moving Forward
The episode concludes with a call to action for both clinicians and hospital administrators to acknowledge these challenges and work collaboratively towards solutions. As Suzanne notes, "we have opportunities to improve"—and recognizing the issues is the first step in creating a safer environment for mothers and their babies.
This conversation is a crucial reminder that change is possible when we confront the willful blind spots in our systems.
For more insights and discussions, tune into the full episode and join the conversation about improving maternal health care.
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 Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist with expertise in critical care obstetrics.
Suzanne McMurtry Baird, DNP, RN is the Nursing Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics with many years of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women.
Julie Arafeh, RN, MS is the Simulation Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a leading expert in simulation.
Critical Care Obstetrics Academy: https://www.clinicalconceptsinob.com/
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