November 20, 2024

April shares her story about Sepsis and how her health care experience has impacted her life and her family's lives. A big THANK YOU to April for sharing her experience with others.

April's Story

No MLR due this month

Please submit the final Sepsis in Obstetric Care Snapshot

Snapshot form here

Link to submit here

Form and link on the PQCNC website - here

Please plan to complete by November 30th - thanks!

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​ 

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