Maternal Health Awareness Day is recognized on January 23. This annual observance aims to improve maternal health outcomes.
Access to maternal health care has increasingly become unobtainable for many patients in the United States. Ongoing financial, staffing and policy challenges have forced hospital administrators in both rural and urban areas to shutter their labor and delivery units, causing patients to travel longer distances or go without needed care.
In particular, rural access to maternal care grows ever more challenging, with more than one-third of U.S. counties considered maternity care deserts, according to a 2022 March of Dimes report.
Health Quality Innovators (HQI) is proud to lead the Maryland Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Collaborative (MDPQC). This network of perinatal care providers and public health professionals work to improve health outcomes for birthing people and newborns through continuous quality improvement. The Collaborative provides participating birthing hospitals with educational resources, technical assistance and a platform for communication and sharing best practices.
Visit the MDPQC website to learn more about this initiative and how it supports healthcare professionals, parents and parents-to-be.