/ en Tue, 29 Jul 2025 21:40:36 -0500 Tue, 29 Jul 25 14:46:46 -0500 /news/headline/2025-07-29-joint-commission-announces-initiative-addressing-accreditation-childrens-hospitals <p>The Joint Commission July 29 <a href="https://www.jointcommission.org/en-us/knowledge-library/news/joint-commission-introduces-childrens-health-strategy" target="_blank">announced</a> an initiative to address “gaps” in how children’s hospitals are accredited and certified. The program will remove or revise inapplicable standards to better suit the circumstances of hospitals, the commission said. The standards selected will be determined by a Children’s Healthcare Advisory Committee, consisting of pediatric clinicians and child health care executives. The committee will be led by Michelle Riley-Brown, president and CEO of Children’s National Hospital, and Michael Anderson, M.D., pediatric intensivist and former CEO of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital.</p> Tue, 29 Jul 2025 14:46:46 -0500 Maternal Health /guidesreports/2025-07-24-strategies-improving-postpartum-hemorrhage-outcomes <div class="container"> .container h2{ color:#9d2235; } .container h3{ color:#003087; } <div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the most common and serious complications of childbirth. It is characterized by rapid and significant blood loss, causing a dangerous drop in blood pressure that can result in organ failure or, in extreme cases, death. Occurring in 3% to 5% of all deliveries, PPH is responsible for <a href="https://www.jointcommission.org/resources/news-and-multimedia/newsletters/newsletters/quick-safety/quick-safety-issue-51-proactive-prevention-of-maternal-death-from-maternal-hemorrhage/quick-safety-51-proactive-prevention-of-maternal-death-from-maternal-hemorrhage/#:~:text=Maternal%20mortality%20by%20the%20numbers&text=5%20Approximately%203%2D5%25%20of,will%20experience%20a%20postpartum%20hemorrhage.&text=These%20preventable%20events%20are%20the,11.2%25%20of%20U.S.%20maternal%20deaths." title="From the Joint Commission" arial-label="Maternal mortality by the numbers">11.2% of maternal deaths</a> in the United States. It also is the leading cause of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28937571/#:~:text=Hemorrhage%20that%20leads%20to%20blood,disseminated%20intravascular%20coagulation%20(2)." title="From the National Library of Medicine" arial-label=" Postpartum Hemorrhage">severe maternal morbidity</a>. Notably, <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22228-postpartum-hemorrhage" title="From Cleveland Clinic" arial-labe="Postpartum Hemorrhage">40% of such hemorrhages</a> occur in patients without any risk factors.</p><p>Early detection and treatment of PPH are critical to ensure a full recovery. Fortunately, most cases are not life threatening if managed promptly. Incorporating tools into electronic health records and labor and delivery workflows can enhance providers’ ability to effectively diagnose and treat PPH.</p><p>The ���������� Association and Epic are partnering to raise awareness of EHR tools that can help providers detect and treat PPH, no matter what software platform they use. These tools can help save lives of new mothers.</p><h2>Assess Patient Risk for Postpartum Hemorrhage</h2><p>Hospitals can identify patients’ risk of hemorrhage by embedding a hemorrhage risk assessment into their obstetric workflows (see Additional Resources below). According to clinicians, the PPH risk assessment should be done at admission, at the start of the second stage of labor, upon transfer to postpartum care and whenever the patient’s condition changes. These assessments categorize patients into low-, medium- and high-risk categories, providing recommendations for medications and other supplies to prevent and treat hemorrhage within each risk category.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><div><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/system/files/media/file/2025/07/Strategies-for-Improving-Postpartum-Hemorrhage-Outcomes.pdf" target="_blank" title="Download the print version of the Insights Report: Strategies for Improving Postpartum Hemorrhage Outcomes">Download the Report PDF</a></div><div><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/press-releases/2025-07-24-american-hospital-association-and-epic-collaborate-toward-improving-maternal-health-outcomes" title="View the Press Release: ���������� Association and Epic Collaborate Toward Improving Maternal Health Outcomes">View the Press Release</a></div><div><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/aha-patient-safety-initiative" target="_blank" title="Click here to visit the AHA Patient Safety Initiative landing page.">Learn More about the AHA Patient Safety Initiative</a></div><div><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/07/Strategies-for-Improving-Postpartum-Hemorrhage-Outcomes.pdf" target="_blank" title="Download the print version of the Report: Strategies for Improving Postpartum Hemorrhage Outcomes"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-07/Postpartum-Hemorrhage-Outcomes-cover-352x456.jpg" alt="Cover image of the Report: Strategies for Improving Postpartum Hemorrhage Outcomes" width="NaN" height="NaN"></a></div></div></div><div class="row"><div class="col-md-12"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-10 col-md-offset-1 spacer"><h3>EHR Considerations:</h3><ul class="arrow"><li class="arrow">Embed the assessment in admission documentation alongside other admission workflows.</li><li class="arrow">Configure the EHR to automatically update the risk score throughout the admission.</li><li class="arrow">Show a notification in the patient chart or tracking board to indicate when the assessment is incomplete.</li><li class="arrow">Show PPH risk assessment scores on admission/delivery summaries, tracking boards and handoffs.</li><li class="arrow">Include written treatment instructions alongside the patient’s risk score.</li><li class="arrow">When a patient is medium or high risk, configure the EHR to automatically recommend necessary supplies in an order set.</li></ul></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-07/Postpartum-Hemorrhage-Outcomes-img1-250x400.jpg" width="250" height="400"></div><h2>Be Prepared for Postpartum Hemorrhage</h2><p>Clinicians should have access to essential digital tools for responding to PPH from a single, centralized location within the EHR. This hub should allow them to more quickly queue common hemorrhage-related orders, record vital signs and assessments, efficiently document medication administrations and IV placements, and access a quantitative blood loss calculator.</p><h2>Improve Hemorrhage Detection and Response with a Quantitative Blood Loss Calculator</h2><p>QBL calculators help clinicians know how much blood a patient has lost, allowing teams to identify and respond to hemorrhage sooner and ideally before a patient’s vital signs deteriorate. Embedding a QBL calculator in the organization’s EHR helps to avoid forcing clinicians to break their workflows or perform manual calculations during a high-stakes clinical episode.</p><p>A QBL calculator works by subtracting the dry weight of materials involved in the clinical episode from the total wet weight of the materials to determine the volume of blood loss. It’s essential to measure the dry weight of all materials that might become blood soaked, including drapes, canisters and sponges.</p><div class="row"><div class="col-md-10 col-md-offset-1 spacer"><h3>EHR Considerations:</h3><ul class="arrow"><li class="arrow">Include an inventory of supplies and their weights in the EHR so clinicians can quickly input the type and number of supplies and allow the system to automatically calculate the dry weight.</li><li class="arrow">Include a row for substituted items in case a team runs out of a particular item.</li><li class="arrow">Show the QBL calculator in a prominent area of the patient chart for delivery workflows.</li><li class="arrow">Make sure that clinicians can easily access total blood loss information for patients.</li></ul></div></div><h2>Track Usage and Impact</h2><p>Your organization’s EHR reporting tools should be able to monitor both compliance and patient outcomes:</p><ul class="arrow"><li class="arrow">Compliance measures may include C-section rates, frequency of QBL calculations and whether appropriate medications were ordered for patients at medium and high risk of PPH.</li><li class="arrow">Patient outcomes can be tracked through metrics such as PPH rates for vaginal and cesarean deliveries, as well as the percentage of deliveries requiring blood transfusions.</li></ul><div class="col-md-3"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-07/Postpartum-Hemorrhage-Outcomes-img2-250x400.jpg" width="250" height="400"></div><h2>Reduce Risk of Postpartum Hemorrhage</h2><p>Reducing the percentage of cesarean deliveries without medical indication can lower the risk of PPH. Incorporating C-section risk calculators into the EHR helps providers and patients more efficiently make informed decisions about whether to transition to a C-section.</p><p>With improved data reporting and advanced data analysis tools, predictive analytics models can help more accurately assess a patient’s risk for PPH and identify effective interventions to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.</p><h2>Implementing the Toolbox</h2><p>Hospitals and health systems working with Epic Systems can connect with their primary Epic contact to activate any or all of these toolbox components.</p><p>Hospitals and health systems working with other EHR providers can use this fact sheet to either identify existing similar tools in their own EHRs or outline a roadmap to build a version of this toolbox unique to their own EHR environment.</p></div></div><div class="row spacer"><div class="col-md-10 col-md-offset-1"><div class="panel module-typeC"><div class="panel-heading"><h3 class="text-align-center panel-title">Additional Resources</h3></div><div class="panel-body"> ul.IRolNumBox li { list-style-type: none; position: relative; margin-bottom: 15px; } <ul class="IRolNumBox"><li><a href="https://www.awhonn.org/resources-and-information/nurse-resources/pph-risk-assessment-tools/" title="AWHONN | Access Free Resources: Risk Assessment Tool & Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Stages Algorithm" target="blank" arial-label="External resource to access free resources from AWHONN">Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses’ Postpartum Risk Assessment Tool</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cmqcc.org/toolkits-quality-improvement/hemorrhage" title="CMQCC | Center for Academic Medicine, Neonatology" arial-label="Ecternal resource on hemorrhage">California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative’s Obstetric Risk Factor Assessment</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2019/12/quantitative-blood-loss-in-obstetric-hemorrhage" title="ACOG | Quantitative Blood Loss in Obstetric Hemorrhage" arial-label="External resource from The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists">ACOG Committee Opinion — Quantitative Blood Loss in Obstetric Hemorrhage</a></li></ul><p><em>The clinican approaches described in this document are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to replace individualized medical judgment. Implementation of these approaches does not guarantee specific patient outcomes. Clinicial decisions should always be based on the healthcare provider’s professional assessment, the patient’s unique circumstances, and the most current standards of care.</em></p></div></div></div></div></div> Thu, 24 Jul 2025 21:45:00 -0500 Maternal Health /news/headline/2025-07-24-aha-epic-collaborate-toward-improving-maternal-health-outcomes <p>The AHA July 24 <a href="/press-releases/2025-07-24-american-hospital-association-and-epic-collaborate-toward-improving-maternal-health-outcomes">announced</a> it is collaborating with health care technology leader Epic to help hospitals adopt tools that support the early detection and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal mortality. <br><br>The organizations have released a <a href="/guidesreports/2025-07-24-strategies-improving-postpartum-hemorrhage-outcomes">toolkit</a> that includes dynamic risk assessments, clinical decision support and treatment guidance embedded in the electronic health record. With the proper permissions from applicable content providers, users of any EHR should be able to implement a similar set of tools. <br><br>“The ���������� Association and Epic share a deep commitment to improving health outcomes for moms and babies,” said Chris DeRienzo, M.D., AHA chief physician executive and a neonatologist. “This new collaboration amplifies our efforts to drive continuous improvement by sharing evidence-based resources to help reduce this tragic condition. It’s a natural extension of <a href="/aha-patient-safety-initiative">AHA’s Patient Safety Initiative</a>, a collaborative data-driven effort to highlight and learn from patient safety progress at hospitals and health systems around the country.” <br><br>The AHA and Epic will support hospitals in their implementation journey with programming, resources and a space to learn from each other and engage with hospitals already seeing successful outcomes with items that are included in the toolkit. </p> Thu, 24 Jul 2025 16:01:03 -0500 Maternal Health /press-releases/2025-07-24-american-hospital-association-and-epic-collaborate-toward-improving-maternal-health-outcomes <p><strong>WASHINGTON</strong> (July 24, 2025) — The ���������� Association (AHA) and health care technology company Epic are collaborating to help more hospitals consider adopting a set of tools to aid in the detection and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) — a serious and potentially life-threatening complication of childbirth.</p><p>PPH is responsible for 11% of maternal deaths in the United States and notably 40% of all such hemorrhages occur in patients without any risk factors. Point-of-care tools in the electronic health record (EHR) can help health care providers prevent, detect and treat PPH, ultimately saving lives and improving care for mothers across America.</p><p><strong>“The ���������� Association and Epic share a deep commitment to improving health outcomes for moms and babies,”</strong> said Chris DeRienzo, M.D., AHA Chief Physician Executive and a neonatologist. <strong>“This new collaboration amplifies our efforts to drive continuous improvement by sharing evidence-based resources to help reduce this tragic condition. It’s a natural extension of </strong><a href="/patientsafety"><strong>AHA’s Patient Safety Initiative</strong></a><strong>, a collaborative data-driven effort to highlight and learn from patient safety progress at hospitals and health systems around the country.”</strong></p><p>This <a href="/guidesreports/2025-07-24-strategies-improving-postpartum-hemorrhage-outcomes">PPH toolkit</a>, available today to users of Epic’s Stork Obstetrics Information System, includes methods of assessing a mother’s risk of hemorrhage, a mechanism to continuously refresh risk assessments throughout the childbirth and postpartum period, embedded guides to support clinical decision-making within clearly defined risk categories, and facilitate treatment of an acute hemorrhage, all within a clinician’s obstetric workflow. With the proper permissions from applicable content providers, users of any EHR should be able to implement a similar set of tools.</p><p><strong>“Every mother deserves a safe childbirth experience,”</strong> said Jackie Gerhart, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Epic. <strong>“That’s why we’re working together to deliver proven, point-of-care tools that help clinicians prevent and manage postpartum hemorrhage. The goal of our joint effort is to help caregivers act quickly when every second counts.”</strong></p><p>The collaboration will bring together experts from Epic’s customer community and the AHA Patient Safety Initiative to increase awareness of this toolkit. Through this joint effort, AHA and Epic can support hospitals in their implementation journey with programming, resources and a space to learn from each other and engage with hospitals already seeing successful outcomes with items that are included in the toolkit today. For example: </p><p>Baptist Health in Arkansas, which delivers around 6,800 babies yearly, implemented the postpartum risk assessment tool developed by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), maternal emergency narrator and a blood loss calculator in their EHR in three phases. Staff participated in hemorrhage drills to ensure they mastered the tools to assist with treating a hemorrhaging patient.</p><p>WakeMed Health & Hospitals (WakeMed), a nationally recognized not-for-profit health system based in Raleigh, N.C., is home to three full-service hospitals and birthing centers as well as a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. With a commitment to deliver the best possible experience for every birthing person, baby and family, WakeMed reported 9,915 births during its 2024 fiscal year. Using the AWHONN postpartum risk assessment tool, a maternal emergency narrator, and quantitative blood loss calculator in the health system’s EHR, WakeMed has seen a consistent decrease in obstetric hemorrhage rates since 2022.</p><p>For more information, hospital teams can reach out to AHA or their Epic customer contact.</p><p class="text-align-center">###</p><p><br><strong>About the ���������� Association (AHA)</strong><br>The ���������� Association (AHA) is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA advocates on behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, our clinician partners – including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers – and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides insight and education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA website at <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flink.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com%2Fls%2Fclick%3Fupn%3DOYJSCMTyBhNCCTfI0zdwszOYn3sJE-2FXqs5pFQbQToVu1czeS7DyxR-2FigHWVFiRY4Oo6oAgJXLD947TA-2BGEZyx1U-2BxMxhwGCmeu3hpBv62ixi4Gaoj3ungeoEa3-2FYAHGK3BHm7IClPMOpqGGuehZcHKd2iz31UD7RKmKyCEcMXRTnoh8yBlJu8acmYAALrp6EOP-2Ft3cnmMdvK5nqZdJSXLePqsym9B6l3-2FhTMq7-2Bb8JosjEZoUHARSNRXcRhjtYuUW8b3Ruh3OnqTtP1rycsXtU4hb5fYexe1wss235Q3FCy9uHmriYCFIBuZf8PnpO5pyRJ-2FfmPIBok22615K4oIqgUtbmSmoQxAPJDlI7OGQnCH5suHHwqHxLuBPxjhw3x0S-2BOlVbfr1tyv5q4WDmwhJfnRB1I2CVYvbzsfDnVWzRIoFI5EC2XZl5-2BaBihF3e-2FZvUWbpesKDlmo2VQLhaEk7M6hRO-2FHBlIG-2BTjT7VkJw709CcEkALVTPDz8y0UzEZs0GoIuPdJHeZARIbFOa9gR6fjMkrPAI6LO9FTom-2BexnSp9GQ4l5mmgXaZ7CsIwtMrheRImxdy5MBp05eji1HpT-2FNeN3hN6rYbIdat8ariKfBzqMjtOAgMDnZCRiHvatebOaiSETOoI2jYpwKKhpJNfNHrF0zx672dz7CsT5YmZ5HXzolBt0R012j2tkbYqtPNOY8oBz1wGPjBnTq9EPST8F-2BW8-2FYikePbYBMDgUMo0nlUeQBC8AZre7rJcTTITJnjl-2BNiFadG9NwKiA-2FxQgjk7VqHqHGjMpXr5hphWufxQss37NhkSCN3PHCfPGELMAyVsuWEKFwhoII57va6Oc-2FP5fsy4s0pxWYIqbY7TFBxC4wv2vIQPbuK-2Ffgk92daVI0JbCyEOx-2BFh5dH28vCEzpcdfxN7krdKp1FgVQ77i4Sezf0l7WnGrdsLMGXrQAqt9yGU-2BRKCi2ifh3BBnB5JbeuGETPkYqxtKSPZi-2BtIy8eF9puF4krxKbkq8cKiKnElAahdVAnleE-2FzQ7bHPiUMu3JZ72gbqCPI5qXrELa9W2-2Fu-2FiJArYirVKXaV8uTZytnN7QZGhEDdUUzOBh5hjtGiUnGFG-2FbedfAFF738UgbctI6-2F6LwvaxUTT-2F3f5-2BYAtNOA3gFIkr0YZI-2Bkp0pooE3R22sTgBSNmdXiivkpApx6Ei-2BDX8-3D3DAA_kFmn947cPXeH4Nw5FKo9qWRARJUhwQXnY03SXbOJmd4fh-2FMf2fOpasllheBrYb-2F8tnjtjNDujBrG4uugreK5OWkDI227pG8YPlYGd-2Boz0WRezRdoSQJc-2FP-2FpAltWiLE9pScP81GIyVR1BztpaUmvq4E4zMoLikDKB7qk7SlL1-2FSGTuq0Bu0R3sCFv0AlEvmdDd75oyZbY7RlObuKy8esCENzQALhVZozv7LMFYFbh6FoAftC2xff7B2RF1o4DyYa8Yk0qnye3e4M7f-2FLTDmb41Sre88XiBBVGOfI8xGJkG97-2FD0XhYt4wg6fI0ygMcU4RnkuCvJp-2FGmWHgxvA8ix-2B09NZaMuyjMcnGo-2FFsPDtVZB0niWZpguf-2FSbdPRwWfez&data=05%7C01%7Ccmilligan%40aha.org%7Ce2604527eb3f4875ea0a08da552477fc%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C637915912395382238%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jDbJ5gw8UdYtaVoma4Dn5DzDDHMI494FNLdQQh" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">www.aha.org</a>.</p> Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:15:48 -0500 Maternal Health /role-hospitals-hshs-st-vincent-hospital-14-labor-and-delivery-nurses-experience-their-own-baby-boom <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-7"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-07/THS%20-%20StVincent-Nurses-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Telling the Hospital Story. 14 St. Vincent Hospital labor and delivery nurses experience their own baby boom" width="700" height="532" class="align-left"></div><p>What started as a group of nurses and friends taking a photo during a shift change has turned into a viral social media moment — in the best way.</p><p>In May, 11 registered nurses at <a href="https://www.hshs.org/st-vincent/services/pregnancy-and-birth" target="_blank">HSHS St. Vincent Hospital’s Women and Infants Center</a> in Green Bay, Wis., gathered for a quick picture between shifts. The nurses (not including three more who couldn’t be there) were all pregnant and wanted to capture the shared moment in time. During her daily round, Director of Nursing Amy Bardon heard about the photo op and asked the hospital’s marketing team to take the photo. After a social media post and an article on the hospital’s website wishing the team a happy Nurses Week and Mother’s Day were published, the news spread. Fast.</p><p>The nurses were quickly caught up in the viral moment and began giving interviews to several news outlets, including local TV stations, USA Today, People, Good Morning America and <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/world-news-tonight-with-david-muirT/video/14-wisconsin-nurses-pregnant-same-time-121677297" target="_blank">ABC News</a>.</p><p>“It’s been really fun for them and they’re still talking about it,” Bardon said, adding that the nurses are now recognized in the grocery store and around town. “But it’s changing rapidly, because pregnancies don’t last forever. There is a due date.”</p><p>Eight of the 14 nurses have delivered their babies so far, Bardon said — four girls and four boys. The tight-knit group has shared experiences and stories and helped set new moms’ expectations. And when the time comes for them to deliver, they know they will experience the same compassion and empathy they bring to their patients’ bedside. “It’s a phenomenal experience,” Bardon said.</p><p>Bardon added that support from her chief nursing officer and other senior leaders is making it possible for the nurses to be on leave and not unduly stress the rest of the staff. Data transparency was key to show where staffing gaps would be and leaders in the Women and Infants Center are hands-on in managing the situation. The unit has 87 nurses in all, with regional and internal flex teams, orientees, temporary staff and full-time staff helping to fill in the absences.</p><p>“Staffing is always a challenge. As health care leaders, we face that challenge in many organizations, especially in a specialty area where that skillset is required to provide that high quality care,” Bardon said. “Our leadership team have embraced it.”</p><p>The nurses plan to recreate their viral photo next year, with one difference: Their babies will make an appearance, too. </p></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/workforce-home">Workforce</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:23:42 -0500 Maternal Health /role-hospitals-canyon-vista-medical-center-launches-special-delivery-program-improve-maternal-health-and-save-lives <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-6"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-07/ths-canyon-vista-special-delivery-700x532.jpg" alt="Canyon Vista Medical Center launches special delivery program to improve maternal health and save lives" width="700" height="513"></p></div><p>For Canyon Vista Medical Center (CVMC) in Sierra Vista, Arizona, it’s all in the wrist. Its new Special Delivery Program equips postpartum patients with wristbands to wear for six weeks after childbirth, serving as a visual cue for both patients and health care providers to remain alert to potential complications.</p><p>Many life-threatening postpartum complications — such as hypertension, infections, and heart conditions — often arise days or even weeks after delivery. With over half of pregnancy-related deaths occurring between one week and one year postpartum, the Special Delivery Program aims to bridge this dangerous gap by ensuring that recent deliveries are recognized and addressed promptly in medical settings.</p><p>In addition to the wristbands, CVMC encourages community involvement by asking families, friends, and neighbors to check in on new mothers during the postpartum period. The wristbands act as a discreet but effective signal, prompting conversations and encouraging individuals to seek medical attention if they experience concerning symptoms.</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.canyonvistamedicalcenter.com/news/cvmc-launches-special-delivery-program-to-improve-maternal-health-and-save-lives">LEARN MORE</a></p><p> </p></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/center/population-health">Improving Health and Wellness</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:21:50 -0500 Maternal Health /news/headline/2025-07-15-study-examines-decline-obstetric-services-rural-and-urban-hospitals <p>A Health Affairs <a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2024.01552" target="_blank">study</a> on the decline of obstetric services in rural and urban hospitals nationwide from 2010-2022 found that seven states had at least 25% of their hospitals report they are no longer providing obstetric services. Additionally, by 2022, more than two-thirds of rural hospitals in eight states were without obstetric services.</p><p>In five states, 25% or more of their urban hospitals no longer reported providing obstetric services by 2022, but this was more pronounced in rural areas, with a total of 12 states experiencing 25% or more losses of obstetric services in rural hospitals. The study examined AHA survey data as well as information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Provider of Services files.</p> Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:59:27 -0500 Maternal Health /news/headline/2025-06-30-aha-video-highlights-potential-impact-medicaid-cuts-maternal-care-west-virginia <p>The latest video in the AHA’s series “Medicaid: Real Lives, Real Care” features Melissa Fannon-Wisner, DNP, nurse educator and nurse practitioner at Valley Health’s Winchester Medical Center. She explains how Medicaid cuts could limit access to care for new mothers, simply because they cannot afford the care. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM24ACWAYgU">WATCH NOW</a> </p> Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:18:11 -0500 Maternal Health /news/headline/2025-06-26-aha-video-highlights-how-medicaid-cuts-could-imperil-behavioral-maternal-health-care <p>Kevin McEwan, DNP, R.N., chief nursing officer at Madison Memorial Hospital, shares how Medicaid provides vital behavioral health and maternal and child care access for vulnerable rural communities in Idaho, in the latest video in the AHA’s series “Medicaid: Real Lives, Real Care.” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTrMkt_uYA0"><strong>WATCH NOW</strong></a></p> Thu, 26 Jun 2025 16:07:16 -0500 Maternal Health /role-hospitals-evanston-regional-hospital-new-program-working-fill-gaps-wyomings-maternal-healthcare <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-5"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-06/ths-evanston-intermountain-virtual-maternal-health-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Evanston Regional Hospital. A pregnant woman sits at a kitchen table measuring her blood pressure and looking at a laptop" width="700" height="532"></div><p>The closure of labor and delivery services at Evanston Regional Hospital last December left a significant gap in prenatal care in southwestern Wyoming. Utah-based Intermountain Health has stepped in to fill the gap, ensuring that patients wouldn't be left without care. Through its recently launched Maternal Health Connections (MHC) program at Evanston Regional, expectant mothers now have regained access to comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care, including virtual monitoring of vital signs, mental health support, genetic counseling, and assistance for patients with substance use disorders. The program helps reduce the burden on patients who previously had to travel long distances for short appointments, often losing work hours and wages.</p><p>The program has already received about 25 referrals within a few weeks of operation. Nurse Courtney Bettinson said her patients have expressed gratitude that they don’t have to travel hours for essential care anymore. “This is my community, and it means a lot to me,” said Bettinson. “I will pour my professional heart and soul into this program.”</p><p>Bettinson and the team at MHC are dedicated to creating birth and postpartum plans for each patient, ensuring they are well-prepared for labor and delivery. The program aims to expand to other areas, such as Kemmerer, where labor services ended in 2022.</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/health/2025-04-30/a-new-program-is-working-to-fill-gaps-in-wyomings-maternal-healthcare" target="_blank">LEARN MORE</a></p></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/topics/promoting-healthy-communities">Building Healthy Communities</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:24:07 -0500 Maternal Health