Mothers are dying of preventable causes in Maryland.
In Maryland, maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity are consistently higher than national averages.
- Non-Hispanic Black women experience pregnancy-related mortality at 2.6 times the rate of non-Hispanic White birthing women.
Each year, approximately 1,500 mothers experience a life-threatening pregnancy or delivery complication.
- Non-Hispanic Black birthing women and Hispanic birthing women experience severe maternal morbidity at disproportionately high rates Unintentional drug overdose has been the leading cause of death in the year following pregnancy for five consecutive years.
Over 80% of maternal deaths are preventable or potentially preventable.
The Hospital Initiative supports interventions to improve systems of care in Maryland Hospitals.
Current Offerings
MDMOM Maternal Health Quality Improvement Toolkit and Community of Learning
The Toolkit presents recommended strategies, change ideas, and practical resources to support Maryland hospital maternal health leaders pursue their equity goals. In 2023, MDMOM launched its first community of learning to facilitate toolkit implementation.
Managing Bias in the Care of Pregnant and Parenting Women with Substance Use Disorder
This training provides guidance on caring for pregnant and parenting people who use substances. It covers lessons on addiction in pregnancy, stigma and bias, and supportive care practices that can help avert this preventable causes of mortality.
Managing Bias in the Care of Pregnant and Parenting People with Substance Use Disorder
Train-the-Trainer
This interactive skill-building sessions teaches Maryland healthcare professionals actionable strategies to mitigate the effects of bias on patient care. Next, MDMOM will offer a train-the-trainer program to support hospitals and schools of nursing to deliver skill-building content.
Hospital Initiative Timeline
All 32 birth hospitals in Maryland and over 3,000 maternal healthcare professionals have participated in at least one of the Hospital Initiative’s offerings. Details of the implementation timeline and reach are outlined below.
