With help from a health equity grant collaboration between the AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, UnityPoint launched its CenteringPregnancy Care to Mitigate Racial Disparities Program. The evidence-based, prenatal care and peer support program aims to lower rates of preterm and low-birthweight babies. The program also aims to encourage infant breastfeeding and reduce the rate of neonatal intensive care unit admissions. In this month’s Spotlight Feature interview, Kari Beth Watts, D.O., at UnityPoint Health, discusses the program’s roots and goal of improving overall maternal and child health. Read more.

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The U.S. maternal mortality rate fell to 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024, statistically similar to the 2023 rate of 18.6 per 100,000,…
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The AHA and Epic are launching the Safer Births PPH Collaborative, a seven-month initiative designed to support hospitals in reducing postpartum hemorrhage…
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A new blog shares key takeaways from the AHA’s Better Health for Mothers and Babies webinar series, where hospitals share how they are putting the initiative’s…
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Despite medical advancements, maternal mortality rates have doubled since 1987. Yet more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths have been deemed preventable.We…
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Kimberly Green Reeves, vice president of community impact and partnerships at Beacon Health System, and Cassy White, director of community impact at Beacon…
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The AHA has published a webpage that highlights facts, causes, effects and solutions that hospitals and health systems can use for reducing the risk and…