IMPROVE Workshop

Thursday, October 9, 2025, 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM MST, Kem C. Gardner Transformation Center, Murray, UT


AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (4.00 hours), ANCC Contact Hour(s) (4.00 hours), Non-Physician Participation AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (4.00 hours)

The IMPROVE workshop is designed to address the educational needs of health professionals involved in clinical care around the time of stillbirth or neonatal death, including clinicians, obstetricians, pathologists, midwives, bereavement specialists, social workers and other professionals. Educational materials and supporting documents have been adapted from the Australia context to the USA context by the University of Utah Stillbirth Center of Excellence (USCOE). Interactive stations are organized around the sections of the PSANZ perinatal mortality guidelines: •Station one: Communication with parents about perinatal autopsy •Station two: Autopsy and placental examination •Station three: Investigation of fetal deaths •Station four: Examination of babies who die in the perinatal period •Station five: Institutional perinatal mortality audit and classification •Station six: Respectful and supportive bereavement care

1. STATION ONE: Communicating with parents about perinatal autopsy Aim: To provide information to assist clinicians to help parents to make an informed choice about perinatal autopsy. Objectives: At the end of this station you will: 1. Understand the principles of compassionate communication around parental consent for autopsy 2. Know the relevant information to provide to parents to enable informed choice about perinatal autopsy including the value of autopsy 3. Understand the common barriers to obtaining consent for autopsy and be able to discuss possible solutions
2. STATION TWO: Autopsy and placental examination Aim: To describe the perinatal autopsy procedure and demonstrate the process of placental examination. Objectives: At the end of this station you will: 1. Understand why the placental examination and autopsy (even an external only) are so important in understanding why a baby has died 2. Describe the procedures involved in a perinatal autopsy and the appearance of a baby after an autopsy examination 3. Perform a delivery unit examination of the placenta and cord to identify important abnormal features. 4. Understand when placental histopathology should be undertaken and how to transport placentae to the pathology department
3. STATION THREE: Investigation of fetal death Aim: To provide an understanding of the recommended investigations to identify the causes of fetal death Objectives: At the end of this station you will: 1. Explain the timing, type and reasons for the core investigations of a fetal death 2. Explain the approach to investigating fetal death when the cause is definitely known 3. Describe the timing, type and reasons for additional investigations of fetal death 4. Explain alternative investigations and their availability for fetal death when autopsy is declined
4. STATION FOUR: Examination of babies who die in the perinatal period Aim: To demonstrate how to undertake a detailed clinical examination of stillbirths and neonatal deaths including measurements and clinical photographs. Objectives: At the end of this station you will be able to: 1. Explain how to take the recommended standardised clinical photographs of a deceased baby 2. Accurately measure a baby’s head circumference, length and weight and plot these measurements on centile charts 3. Examine a deceased baby according to the recommended checklist
5. STATION FIVE: Institutional perinatal mortality audit and classification Aim: To provide an understanding of the process of institutional perinatal mortality audit and classification as to causes and contributing factors of stillbirths and neonatal deaths. Objectives: At the end of this station you will: 1. Explain the rationale for high quality perinatal mortality audit 2. Understand the rationale for classification using perinatal mortality classifications 3. Understand the principles of applying the stillbirth classification system for stillbirths and neonatal deaths
6. STATION SIX: Psychological and social aspects of perinatal bereavement Aim: To provide an understanding of how to provide appropriate psychological and social support for families after a stillbirth and neonatal death. Objectives: At the end of this station you will: 1. Understand parental responses after experiencing perinatal death 2. List the factors considered to be important for bereaved parents which will influence their experience and outcome 3. Provide appropriate information to parents concerning birth options, special circumstances, creating memories, hospital stay, funeral arrangements and aftercare

1. Learners will self-report an increase in knowledge and skill in compassionate communication enabling parents to make informed choice about perinatal autopsy.
2. Learners will self-report strengthened comprehension in the procedure and process of perinatal autopsy and placental examination.
3. Learners will self-report increased ability to explain the timing, type and reasons for the core investigations of a fetal death, and alternative investigations when autopsy is declined.
4. Learners will self-report an increase in proficiency in detailed examination, measurement and clinical photography of stillborn infants.
5. Learners will self-report an increased comprehension regarding perinatal audits and classification.
6. Learners will self-report greater awareness of how to provide appropriate psychological and social support for families after a stillbirth and neonatal death.

Registration for the IMPROVE Workshop can be found at IMPROVE Workshop UU Page.

ACCME Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Intermountain Health and the University of Utah School of Medicine. Intermountain Health is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA Credit:

Intermountain Health designates this live activity for a maximum of 4* AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s).™  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ANCC Statement

Intermountain Health is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's

Commission on Accreditation. This live activity offers a maximum of 4 nursing contact hours. Successful completion is attending no less than 1 full session and claiming credit only for sessions attended. Credit is awarded upon completion of a conference feedback survey. There is no commercial support for this event.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Intermountain Health - Interprofessional Continuing Education adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Thursday, October 9, 2025