Missouri Maternal Health Leaders Discuss MO PQC Progress

ph_logo-3000px

The newest edition of PolicyHuddle explores the progress occurring in maternal health improvement, including how the Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative is creating opportunities for better care and health for expecting and new mothers in Missouri.  

The episode features Dr. Karen Florio, Vice Chair of Patient Safety and Quality Improvement at the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia, Mo., Dr. Niraj Chavan, Associate Professor of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, at Saint Louis University, and Alison Williams, Division Vice President of Clinical Quality Affairs at the Missouri Hospital Association, who leads the Missouri PQC.  

In March, MO PQC in partnership with MHA, released its 2023-2025 progress report. Since 2023, participating hospitals and partners have advanced systems that improve patient safety, operational performance and long-term health outcomes, including:  

• faster treatment of severe high blood pressure, reducing the risk of stroke, seizures and long-term cardiovascular disease
• a 29% reduction in babies diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome, helping shorten hospital stays and reduce NICU utilization
• nearly universal hemorrhage risk assessments, a foundational step in preventing shock, organ failure and maternal death
• stronger postpartum follow-up, improving care during the months when preventable deaths occur
• evidence-based safety practices embedded into daily care, not just policies on paper 

In the episode, the panelists discuss how the implementation of patient safety bundles has improved clinical care and how initiatives like Ask Me 5 are changing patient-clinician engagement to identify and mitigate pregnancy and postpartum risk.  

This edition of PolicyHuddle is less than 18 minutes in length and available online or on your favorite podcast platform.