Clinical Resources and Tools
Maternal mortality is a concerning public health problem in the United States. About 700 women die every year due to pregnancy-related complications. Although rare, these deaths are particularly tragic because about two in three deaths could be prevented.
Clinical Tools:
- Maternal Patient Safety Bundlesexternal icondeveloped by the former Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health Care.
- Maternal Early Warning Signs (MEWS) Protocolexternal icon developed by the former Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health Care.
- Toolkit for Improving Perinatal Safetyexternal icondeveloped by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
- Guide to Patient and Family Engagement in Hospital Quality and Safetyexternal icon developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Healthcare Professional Education:
- POST-BIRTH Warning Signs Education Programexternal icon developed by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
- Back to Basicsexternal icon: Foundations for Mindful Care developed by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
- Eliminating Preventable Maternal Mortality and Morbidityexternal icon from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
- Maternal Cardiac Conditions: Addressing a Leading Cause of Pregnancy-Related Death—external iconWebinar hosted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Implicit Bias and Stigma:
- March of Dimes’ Professional Educationexternal icon, including Implicit Bias Training focused on maternity care.
- Beyond Labels: Reducing Stigmaexternal icon developed by March of Dimes.
- SPEAK UP Programexternal icon by the Institute for Perinatal Quality Improvement.
- AWHONN Insights Podcast: The Impact of Implicit Bias in Healthcareexternal icon
- Healthy Equity, Implicit Bias, Stigma & Antiracismexternal icon developed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Health Equity and Cultural Awareness:
- American Medical Association (AMA) Center for Health Equityexternal icon.
- Importance of Social Determinants of Health and Cultural Awareness in the Delivery of Reproductive Health Careexternal icon by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
- Birth Equityexternal icon developed by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
- Think Cultural Healthexternal icon developed by the Office of Minority Health.
- The EveryONE Project™external icon developed by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Additional resources related to maternal health and pregnancy-related complications.
Page last reviewed: February 16, 2022