Background: This Symposium explored the state of quality initiatives to prevent preterm birth and developed an action agenda to decrease the rate of preterm births that are not inevitable or medically necessary.

The Symposium brought together a multidisciplinary group of health care practitioners, health insurers, policy makers, health purchasers, regulators and concerned citizens to discuss quality improvement as an essential component in the strategy to prevent prematurity, promote health and save costs. It was a forum where experts and stakeholders:
• Shared ideas and challenges
• Described model programs that have successfully improved the nature and quality of patient care and services targeted to prematurity prevention
• Recommended quality improvement action plans

For more information, visit the symposium Web screen.