1219: Using Data to Drive Better Maternal Health Outcomes

Maternal health improvements are possible when states, hospitals, and community partners use data to identify the drivers of severe maternal morbidity and target care where it can have the greatest impact. Rachel Sheehan, director of perinatal improvement at Premier, Inc., discusses how patient safety bundles and state perinatal quality collaboratives have helped reduce maternal mortality, while highlighting the challenges that remain in prenatal and postpartum care. Rachel Sheehan also discusses how states can use rural health transformation investments to expand maternity care access, including through care coordination, virtual care, and data-driven identification of high-risk patients. She explains why sustaining proven interventions, aligning measures across agencies, and strengthening partnerships with community organizations will be critical to improving maternal health and health outcomes for families.