Lead Agency/Contact: NC Department of Health and Human Services, Women’s Health Branch/Belinda Pettiford, MPH
Partners: NC Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities; March of Dimes-NC Chapter; NC OB/GYN Society; NC Affiliate of American College of Nurse-Midwives, NC Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program; AHEC Scholars; NC Alliance for Health Professions Diversity; 4th Trimester Project at UNC; NC Academy of Family Physicians; NC Institute of Medicine; Centering Consortium; MAHEC, Eastern AHEC, Vidant Health Foundation, Community Care of Lower Cape Fear, Atrium Health, and many others.
Related Initiatives & Collaboratives: Perinatal Systems of Care Task Force; State Maternal Mortality Review Committee; NC Title V; NC Institute of Medicine; Perinatal Health Strategic Plan; Preconception Health Strategic Plan
MHLIC Coach: Dorothy Cilenti, DrPH, MSW
Outcome Measures: Health insurance coverage; annual well-woman visits; receipt of prenatal care; first trimester prenatal care; Postpartum visit; screening for PPD; pregnancy-related deaths; severe maternal morbidity
Goals:
Establish a state-focused Maternal Health Task Force to create and implement a strategic plan that incorporates activities outlined in the state’s most recent State Title V Needs Assessment:
- Build on existing Perinatal Systems of Care Task Force with focus on maternal health
- Include at least one woman with lived experience from each perinatal care region to serve on the MHTF
- Hold Maternal Health Summit in late spring/early summer 2020
Improve the collection, analysis, and application of state-level data on maternal mortality and SMM
- NC Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) will publish annual report documenting progress on the maternal health strategic plan
- Use Maternal Mortality Review Information Application (MMRIA) tool to support MMRCs review of maternal deaths
Aggregate data on SMM to be produced by State Center for Health Statistics to be shared with MHTF
Promote and execute innovation in maternal health service delivery, such as improving access to maternal care services, identifying and addressing workforce needs, and/or supporting postpartum and interconception care services, among others
- Collaborate with March of Dimes – NC Chapter and NC AHEC to develop and lead implicit bias trainings for health care providers and health profession students
- Fund two CBOs to pilot a CHW and Doula program in perinatal care regions 5 and 6
- Provide start-up funds to support implementation of four new CenteringPregnancy sites in perinatal care regions 5 and 6
- Implement key elements of ACOG postpartum bundle in 2-3 clinics in perinatal care regions 5 and 6 (4th Trimester)
- Pilot telehealth services via personal smart devices
- Partner with two new clinical sites annually to offer telehealth services in perinatal care regions 5 and 6.
- Form statewide provider support network consisting of Obstetric and Family Practice champions and perinatal outreach coordinators to enhance communication and transition of care.