At a glance
Explore additional resources and tools that health care professionals and public health practitioners can use to improve care and outcomes for people who are pregnant or postpartum.
Background
Maternal mortality is a concerning public health problem in the United States. Too many people die every year due to pregnancy-related complications. Although rare, these deaths are particularly tragic because over 80% are preventable.
These resources have been developed by other organizations working to improve maternal health outcomes. Health care professionals and public health practitioners can use these resources to improve care and outcomes for mothers.
Clinical Tools
Identifying and Managing Obstetric Emergencies in Nonobstetric Settings by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Maternal Patient Safety Bundles developed by the former Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health Care.
Maternal Early Warning Signs (MEWS) Protocol developed by the former Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health Care.
Toolkit for Improving Perinatal Safety developed by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Guide to Patient and Family Engagement in Hospital Quality and Safety developed by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Health Care Professional Education
POST-BIRTH Warning Signs Education Program developed by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
Back to Basics: Foundations for Mindful Care developed by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
Maternal Cardiac Conditions: Addressing a Leading Cause of Pregnancy-Related Death Webinar hosted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Implicit Bias and Stigma
Beyond Labels: Reducing Stigma developed by March of Dimes.
SPEAK UP Program by the Institute for Perinatal Quality Improvement
Video: A Physician Shares Stories about Listening to Black Women
AWHONN Insights Podcast: The Impact of Implicit Bias in Health Care
Healthy Equity, Implicit Bias, Stigma & Antiracism developed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Health Equity and Cultural Awareness
American Medical Association (AMA) Center for Health Equity
Importance of Social Determinants of Health and Cultural Awareness in the Delivery of Reproductive Health Care by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Birth Equity developed by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
Think Cultural Health developed by the Office of Minority Health.
The EveryONE ProjectTM developed by the American Academy of Family Physicians.