At a glance
Explore additional resources and tools that health care professionals and public health practitioners can use to improve care and outcomes for women who are pregnant or postpartum.
Background
Maternal mortality is a concerning public health problem in the United States. Too many women die every year due to pregnancy-related complications. Although rare, these deaths are particularly tragic because over 80% are preventable.
These resources have been developed by other organizations working to improve maternal health outcomes. Health care professionals and public health practitioners can use these resources to improve care and outcomes for mothers.
Clinical Tools
Identifying and Managing Obstetric Emergencies in Nonobstetric Settings by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Maternal Early Warning Signs (MEWS) Protocol developed by the former Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health Care.
Toolkit for Improving Perinatal Safety developed by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Guide to Patient and Family Engagement in Hospital Quality and Safety developed by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Health Care Professional Education
Back to Basics: Foundations for Mindful Care developed by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
Maternal Cardiac Conditions: Addressing a Leading Cause of Pregnancy-Related Death Webinar hosted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Implicit Bias and Stigma
Beyond Labels: Reducing Stigma developed by March of Dimes.
Video: A Physician Shares Stories about Listening to Black Women
Health Equity and Cultural Awareness
Think Cultural Health developed by the Office of Minority Health.
The EveryONE ProjectTM developed by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Culturally Appropriate Care for American Indian and Alaska Native Women
A guide to build cultural awareness, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Video series on historical trauma and cultural healing, University of Minnesota Extension
Common definitions on cultural safety, Public Health Agency of Canada
Healthy Tribes, CDC
Historical trauma among Indigenous peoples of the Americas: concepts, research, and clinical considerations, Dr. Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart
Introduction to cultural safety, Frontier Nursing University
Why cultural safety rather than cultural competency is required to achieve health equity, Elana Curtis