Perinatal

Many women do not experience complications during childbirth, but labor and delivery present risks for both mother and infant. Adverse obstetrical events can cause severe harm. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), obstetrical adverse events happen during approximately 9 percent of all U.S. deliveries. These include perineal tears, hemorrhaging or even death for the mother; injuries to the skeleton or spinal cord of the infant; and some neonatal intensive care unit admissions.    

While not all adverse obstetrical events are preventable, many are. MHA’s committee of perinatal experts developed a perinatal road map outlining evidence-based recommendations and standards for the development of prevention and quality improvement programs that align process improvements with outcome data. The road map reflects published literature and guidance from relevant professional organizations and regulatory agencies, as well as identified proven practices.

Perinatal Substance Use

To help provide a statewide response to the opioid epidemic in pregnant women and newborns, the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) convened a work group of obstetricians, perinatalogists and neonatologists to develop tools that hospitals and health systems across the state can use to identify, assess and treat newborns exposed to substances and their mothers/persons experiencing substance use disorders or addiction..