October 23, 2024

Cardiac Conditions in Obstetric Care Initiative now enrolling teams...

We are excited to announce that the Perinatal Quality Collaborative of North Carolina (PQCNC) is ready to enroll teams for Cardiac Conditions in Obstetric Care. This new initiative will launch at our January 2025 Kick-Off Day (registration information to follow). 

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity in pregnancy and the first year postpartum.​(1)​ The maternal mortality rate in North Carolina from 2018-2022 was 26.7 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is higher than the national rate.​(2​) The North Carolina Maternal Mortality Review Committee found that cardiovascular conditions were the third leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in 2018-2019.​(3)​ Some studies have shown that nearly a third of maternal cardiac deaths were potentially preventable.​(4​) 

We want to partner with you and your hospital to address the challenge of maternal cardiac care in North Carolina. Join us at PQCNC in 2025 to support the implementation of evidence-based measures to improve recognition and treatment of maternal cardiac conditions and to implement systems for appropriate escalation of care in North Carolina. 

Join us as we continue the mission to make North Carolina the best place to give birth and be born! 

References 

​​1. Creanga AA, Berg CJ, Syverson C, Seed K, Bruce FC, Callaghan WM. Pregnancy-related mortality in the United States, 2006-2010. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2015;125(1):5-12. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000000564 

​2. National Center for Health Statistics. Maternal Deaths and Mortality Rates by State, 2018-2022.; 2022. Accessed October 9, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/maternal-mortality/mmr-2018-2022-state-data.pdf 

​3. Division of Public Health. North Carolina 2018-2019 Maternal Mortality Review Report.; 2024. Accessed October 9, 2024. https://wicws.dph.ncdhhs.gov/docs/MMRCReport.pdf 

​4. Hollier LM, Martin JN, Connolly H, et al. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 212: Pregnancy and Heart Disease. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2019;133(5):e320-e356. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000003243​ 

The Sepsis Webinar with Tiffany Messerall, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, RNC-OB is now available!

Tiffany Messerall is the Evidence-Based Practice Lead for OhioHealth where she is responsible for system and organizational leadership of evidence-based initiatives. Dr. Messerall holds a Bachelor of Science in zoology and a Master of Science in neuroendocrinology from Miami University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing, a Master of Science in nursing with a specialty in women’s health, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice in women’s health from the University of South Alabama. As a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner, Tiffany’s work includes a focus on the advancement of maternal health.

Tiffany’s experience with AIM is multifaceted. Dr. Messerall has served as the organizational lead for implementation of the AIM Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy patient safety bundle at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, a tertiary center with 6,200 annual births and 90+ OB/GYN providers. She also has experience with state-level AIM patient safety bundle engagement through a partnership with the Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center and the Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative. In addition, Tiffany has been actively involved with the AIM National Team as a content expert on the development of the AIM Sepsis in Obstetrical Care Patient Safety Bundle.

PQCNC 2024 Annual Meeting / New Initiatives 2026

Mark your calendars for October 28th at the McKimmon Center.

Register here

A variety of speakers in the morning and an afternoon dedicated to presentations and voting on proposed initiatives to be undertaken in January 2026!



Sepsis Primary Contact Update

As we announced during the May Learning Session, Clinical Initiative Manager Elizabeth Balskus is leaving the PQCNC team. Starting July 1st, Keith Cochran will be the primary point of contact for the Sepsis in Obstetric Care Initiative. Moving forward, please send Monthly Leadership Reports to qiadvisor@pqcnc.org