Maternal Health

Working together, Maryland hospitals aim to reduce severe maternal morbidity by nearly 20% by 2026.

Maternal Health Commitment

The Maryland Hospital Association (MHA) and Maryland hospitals are implementing systemwide plans to ensure equitable access to health care before, during, and after pregnancy. By signing MHA’s Maternal Health Commitment, hospitals pledge to address:

  • Immediate factors leading to severe maternal morbidity within hospital settings
  • Broader pre-existing conditions, environmental factors, and health care elements contributing to the overall risk of severe maternal morbidity and mortality

Maryland hospitals’ collaborative efforts extend beyond hospital walls to include partnerships with provider groups and trusted community-based organizations. Working together, hospitals aim to reduce severe maternal morbidity by nearly 20% by 2026.

Adopt equity plan & BIRTH Equity training for ED ambulatory

Leadership on Birth Outcomes and Accountability

Obstetric hemorrhage, hypertension, AIM bundles

Access impact of gaps in pre-natal care
chart showing various intervention methods

Equitable Access to Health Care for Women

Ensuring equal access to health care is crucial and hospitals strive to support pregnant people and families in our communities. Fostering a healthy pregnancy requires the collective efforts of the community. Maryland hospitals are involved in many collaborative initiatives and programs to better maternal health.

View Chart

Birth Outcomes Accountability Work Group

MHA’s member-led Birth Outcomes Accountability Work Group convenes physicians, hospital executives, and other leaders in the maternal and child health field in Maryland to improve maternal health equity. This work group:

  • Reviews data encompassing severe maternal morbidity
  • Shares best practices
  • Recommends strategies to address barriers to maternal health equity

The goal of the Birth Outcomes Accountability Work Group is to encourage hospitals to create perinatal quality structures that are robust, meaningful, multidisciplinary, and data driven.

Meeting Materials

Case Study Presentations

Maryland Maternal Health Programs

Maryland hospitals collaborate to counteract elevated maternal morbidity and mortality rates and address longstanding disparities by working with organizations like:

The Maryland Patient Safety Center and MHA partnered to create educational tools for non-obstetric providers to address the substantial disparity in maternal morbidity rates for Black birthing people in Maryland. This effort to help providers and patients recognize early warning signs and identify and mitigate their biases will amplify the implicit bias training and expansion of perinatal resources throughout the state.

BIRTH Equity graphic