Thursday, April 25, 2024
4/25/2024
Rhode Island has less than four maternal mortalities annually with no recognizable racial disparities. According to Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System data, there were less than 10 pregnancy-associated deaths in 2013-2017. It is difficult with such a limited number of deaths to draw any conclusions, yet RI’s Pregnancy & Postpartum Death Review Committee (PPDRC - RI’s MMRC) established in 2019 through legislative action, made recommendations concerning substance use disorders, emergency care, postpartum care, family visiting services, stable housing, patient care, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Although Rhode Island has no recognizable racial, geographic, ethnic, socioeconomic, or educational disparities, we acknowledge the preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum health of Rhode Islanders is impacted by systemic racism, discrimination, unaddressed language barriers, and a lack of culturally responsive providers. Addressing these inequities is a guiding pillar to this work and the framework for engaging the target population. With this funding and accompanying CDC expertise, RIDOH MCH will sustain and enhance RI’s PPDRC in systematically and comprehensively reviewing deaths to develop recommended strategies for preventing future deaths. The Rhode Island Department of Health PPDRC is a recently established multidisciplinary committee that reviews deaths that have occurred during pregnancy or within one year of the end of pregnancy. Rhode Island’s legislation (RIGL §23-4-3) informs the composition of the PPDRC to include representatives of state agencies, and the following individuals: obstetric providers from each hospital that delivers obstetrical care, neonatal specialist; perinatal pathologist; maternal fetal medicine specialist; and individuals or organizations that represent the populations that are most affected by pregnancy-related deaths or pregnancy-associated deaths and lack of access to maternal health care services. RI’s 49-member multidisciplinary PPDRC will review all deaths to RI pregnant and postpartum individuals. RIDOH MCH will comprehensively identify pregnancy-associated deaths, which are deaths occurring to women during pregnancy and within the first year after the end of the pregnancy through accessing vital records, medical examiner’s office records, CDC Lexus-Nexus electronic legal reports, and hospital discharge data. RIDOH MCH will abstract and enter information from medical records, social service records, informant interviews, other relevant sources, and completed PPDR Committee Decisions Form into MMRIA within 18 months of death. RIDOH MCH will improve multidisciplinary, population-level review of potentially pregnancy-related deaths and documentation of recommendations for prevention. RIDOH MCH will improve dissemination, access to, and employment of quality MMRIA data and PPDRC recommendations to drive opportunities for prevention. RIDOH MCH anticipates an increase in timeliness, accuracy, and standardization of information available about pregnancy-related deaths, including documented opportunities for prevention; and an increase in the availability of recommendations of the PPDRC among communities, clinicians, and policy makers.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
