Hospitals are finding new ways to provide maternal care amid OB-GYN unit closures and growing research about maternal care deficiencies.
In the last few months, several studies have found rising concerns over maternal health and deficiencies in care, including rises in pregnancy-related mental health disorders, preeclampsia, rising rates of missed PCOS and iron deficiencies. From 2018 to 2021, the nation's maternal death rate doubled, reaching nearly 33 deaths per 100,000 live births. In Black women, the rate is nearly 70, according to the March of Dimes latest annual report card on maternal and infant health.
More systems have also shuttered maternity services due to financial difficulties. In 2023, 23 maternity units were closed. This year, 26 maternity units have closed as of Sept. 9.
The federal government has taken note of the closures and begun to offer additional funds to help keep OB-GYN units open. This month, the White House and HHS announced the Biden administration will direct nearly $9 million in grants to five rural hospitals to expand access to maternal health services.
Here are three ways systems and states are trying to address the gaps in care:
1. Twenty states now use the Family Connects model, a home visitation program whereby nurses visit new mothers and babies for free one week after being released from the hospital. Nurses check on the health of both patients, consult other family members and provide families with resources, such as breastfeeding help, mental health support and food or housing assistance. The program costs about $700 per family but reduces emergency room visits for newborns and mothers, postpartum depression, anxiety and incidents of child abuse.
2. Some systems are creating C-suite roles to address maternal health. In November, UChicago Medicine named Sarosh Rana, MD, its first chief obstetrical transformation officer.
3. Health systems are also collaborating on maternal health to improve care access. For instance, UChicago Medicine is working closely with South Side Healthy Community Organization, a nonprofit comprising 13 healthcare organizations, to pilot maternal-fetal medicine care, high-level ultrasounds, consultation services, and maternal health quality programs like the postpartum hypertension management initiatives. The partnership hopes to create a framework that other systems can use to improve access.