Optimizing inpatient access to oral contraceptives: A quality improvement approach in behavioral health.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Continuity of oral contraceptive use during hospitalization is critical for reproductive health, yet behavioral health settings often deprioritize this need. At a Midwestern community hospital, pre-admission oral contraceptives were frequently withheld due to absent workflows, inventory limitations, and provider uncertainty.

Objective

The purpose of this quality improvement initiative was to design, implement, and evaluate a structured oral contraceptive procurement workflow to improve continuity of care and support reproductive autonomy for hospitalized behavioral health patients.

Methods

A quality improvement initiative introduced a structured oral contraceptive procurement workflow in an adult inpatient behavioral health unit. Using Plan-Do-Study-Act cyc

SUBMITTER: Pierce RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12856171 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature