To lower maternal mortality rates, hospitals can develop a standard approach to healthcare, Kelly Conklin, MSN, RN, vice president of quality and safety advisory services at healthcare improvement company Premier, writes in a blog post.
Here are four keys to success Premier developed after working with hospitals to lower the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity:
1. Hospitals must implement and sustain a standardized approach to managing known obstetric complications and emergencies involved in pregnancy and childbirth.
2. Providers must recognize and modify care for pregnant women presenting with chronic conditions that contribute to pregnancy-related complications, including hypertension, diabetes and obesity.
3. Healthcare leaders and clinicians should have access to comprehensive clinical data on maternal health outcomes. Developing a maternal mortality review board lets providers gather data on known causes of maternal death and harm.
4. Patients, clinicians, nurses and the healthcare agencies that support them should participate in regular educational training sessions on preventing maternal harm and death, including reliable strategies and processes to mitigate unintended outcomes.