Legislation

Leveraging Health Information & Technology to Address the Maternal Mortality Crisis

This virtual meeting, led by HIMSS and Reach, a 501(c)(3) not for profit global social impact organization, will explore current policy research and technology adoption for the purposes of securing the health and safety of women during the prenatal and postpartum periods. This meeting will also seek to raise awareness about the National Save Moms Campaign and the National Remote Maternal Health Monitoring Demonstration Project, which supports the efforts of those states that are willing to adopt digital health technology to improve maternal health and wellness. 

Learning Objectives

  • To discuss the barriers and challenges, including COVID-19, that contribute to the increase in maternal death and injury
  • To uncover strategies using of health information and technology to improve the timeliness  maternal mortality reporting (vital statistics) and interventions using telehealth and remote patient monitoring
  • To encourage states to assist with the recruitment of National Remote Maternal Health Monitoring Demonstration Project

Nearly 75% of maternal death and injury in the United States is preventable, yet the rates of mortality and morbidity are increasing. The U.S. has the highest rates of fatality due to complications of pregnancy among all developed countries. Data from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and March of Dimes has shown that delays in seeking care, diagnosing, treatment, misdiagnosis and lack of transportation are the top preventable factors of maternal death and injury. Further, studies have shown the pandemic has exacerbated these situations.

Highest Rates of Maternal Mortality by State 2021 (World Population Review 2020)

  1. Louisiana (58.1 per 100k)
  2. Georgia (48.4 per 100k)
  3. Indiana (43.6 per 100k)
  4. New Jersey (38.1 per 100k)
  5. Arkansas (37.5 per 100k)
  6. Alabama (36.4 per 100k)
  7. Missouri (34.6 per 100k)
  8. Texas (34.5 per 100k)
  9. South Carolina (27.9 per 100k)

Speakers

  • Moderator:  Denise W. Hines, DHA, FHIMSS, Chief Americas Officer, HIMSS
  • Fran Ayalasomayajula, MPH, MSMIS, PMP, Head of Population Health, HP Inc. and President, Reach
  • Johnese M. Bostic, Women's Health Informatics Analyst, South Carolina Primary Health Care Association
  • Patricia A. Ferguson, MD, Physician Consultant in Case Management, Quality Improvement, BCBSM
  • Elliott Main, MD, Medical Director of the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative             
  • Jennifer Stoll, EVP, Government Relations and Public Affairs, OCHIN

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