Incorporating the patient and family in consents for the administration of the high-alert medication oxytocin provides an opportunity to develop a shared mental model of the risks and benefits, and ensures that clinicians and patients are engaged in collaborative care.

St. Joseph Medical Center (Towson, Maryland) has graciously offered to share their consents with IHI's Learning and Innovation Community on Improving Perinatal Care as an example of a tool that can be used effectively. The team developed this during their work to reliably document the estimated fetal weight (EFW) prior to the initiation of oxytocin and in conjunction with the Perinatal Oxytocin Bundles.