Reduction in Racial Disparities in Severe Maternal Morbidity From Hemorrhage in a Large-scale Quality Improvement Collaborative

Abstract

(Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020;223:123.e1–14) Racial and ethnic disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality continue to persist in the United States. Maternal death is 3-4 times more likely in black women than in white women, and the risk for severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is 2 times greater among black women than white women. Many of these cases are believed to be preventable by addressing the quality of care. Quality improvement (QI) collaboratives have been put forth as one way to reduce these disparities, but little is known about their effectiveness on racial/ethnic disparities in maternal outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a QI collaborative could narrow the difference in the rates of SMM from hemorrhage between black and white pregnant women.