81: Improving Access to Risk Appropriate Care and Maternal Health Outcomes through Provider Engagement

Maternal mortality rates are disproportionally high in the United States and still increasing. The majority of maternal deaths are preventable, indicating the need for system improvements. Equitable access to risk appropriate care improves maternal health outcomes and can be achieved by engaging providers in the process of developing and implementing risk appropriate care strategies at a state systems level. In this episode, two maternal healthcare veterans share approaches for bringing providers into the process, as well as how state health officials can promote risk appropriate care strategies and address challenges in achieving equitable risk appropriate care.  Show Notes Guests ·       Eugene C. Toy, MD, FACOG, FABFM, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medical Director of ACOG Texas Levels of Maternal Care Verification Program ·       Lily Lou (alumni-AK), MD, FAAP, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine   Resources ·       Risk Appropriate Care Stakeholder Convenings ·       Strengthening Risk-Appropriate Care in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities ·       CDC Levels of Care Assessment ToolSM (CDC LOCATeSM) ·       Levels of Maternal Care (ACOG)