Launching a National Effort to Improve Postpartum Hemorrhage Outcomes

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the most common — and preventable — causes of maternal health in the United States. The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that PPH accounts for 14% of maternal deaths.

The American Hospital Association is partnering with Epic on the Safer Births Postpartum Hemorrhage Collaborative, a nationwide eight-month-long initiative to help care teams better identify, prepare for and respond to PPH by implementing evidence-based digital tools that support rapid, coordinated care.

A March 12 launch event brought together clinicians from providers of all sizes, ranging from rural critical access hospitals to multistate health systems. The initial convening highlighted the power of a national learning community, in which teams will learn with and from one another to adopt and share effective practices to improve maternal outcomes.

A Collective Call to Action

Chris DeRienzo, M.D., AHA senior vice president and chief physician executive, opened the session. As a neonatologist who has cared for patients and families impacted by severe PPH, he reminded participants that behind every statistic is a mother, a baby and a family forever changed.

“It is catastrophic for a person, catastrophic for their family and ultimately catastrophic for our society,” DeRienzo said.

PPH may be difficult to prevent, but evidence-based tools, standardized practices and team training can meaningfully reduce harm.

Inside the PPH Toolkit: Turning Evidence Into Action

Participating hospital teams will take a deep dive into four key components of Epic’s Stork Obstetric System — tools that can also be replicated in any electronic health record (EHR) as they are grounded in publicly available evidence. Subject matter experts will join each session to share practical, real-world guidance for implementing each element.

1. Quantitative Blood Loss (QBL) Calculator

Visual estimation consistently underestimates blood loss. Presenters from Ballad Health will offer best practices, real-world lessons and practical guidance for teams transitioning to QBL.

2. Continuous Risk Assessment

Risk isn’t static. Experts from the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses and Northwell Health will illustrate how ongoing, structured assessment supports timely response and better preparedness across labor, delivery and postpartum care.

3. PPH Emergency Hubs / Narrators

Clinicians from Hartford Health will show how EHR-supported workflows help keep teams aligned during a hemorrhage, creating standardized processes, documenting in real time and supporting rapid coordination.

4. Simulation and Team Training

Participants will gain practical tools and strategies to support ongoing practice, building the skills and confidence care teams need to act quickly and effectively when PPH emergencies occur.

Learning and Improving Together

Over the next eight months, interdisciplinary teams from participating hospitals will:

• Attend monthly interactive learning sessions.
• Join technical office hours with Epic and receive performance improvement coaching with the AHA.
• Complete field application exercises to translate concepts into real workflow changes.
• Connect in a private peer exchange space on the AHA Living Learning Network.

This is not a passive webinar series — it is a hands-on improvement journey. Teams across the country clearly are ready to dig in, learn, adapt and support one another.

A Path Toward Safer Births

Whether your hospital is implementing the emergency narrator for the first time, strengthening your QBL workflows or figuring out how to train a small, multitasking workforce, this collaborative is designed for you.

Together, we can build a safer maternal care landscape, one where every new mother can receive the high-quality care she needs to thrive.

It isn’t too late to join. Learn more and register to participate in the Safer Births Postpartum Hemorrhage Collaborative.