Mississippi health officials have launched a new statewide system to ensure pregnant women, especially those with high-risk pregnancies, get to the right hospital as quickly as possible.
The Mississippi State Department of Health announced Wednesday that the state Board of Health approved final rules for the Obstetrics System of Care, which took effect Feb. 13, creating a framework to coordinate emergency response and hospital care for expectant mothers and their babies.
The OB System of Care is the state’s fourth coordinated medical network, joining existing systems for heart attacks, strokes, and trauma. According to MSDH, Mississippi is the first state in the U.S. to operate four such systems.
“If we can get a mom and her baby to the right level of care as quickly as possible, it will undoubtedly save lives,” State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney said. “When completely built out, this system will activate the moment a 9-1-1 call is made.”
Edney added that the system will help identify women with high-risk factors early and coordinate transportation to the most appropriate hospital – even if it is not the closest facility.
“This system will provide coordination, collaboration, and cooperation among doctors, nurses, EMS, hospitals, community health workers, and organizations,” he said.
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The system is designed to begin working with women in early pregnancy and provide resources to improve outcomes before, during, and after delivery. MSDH said it will continue expanding the system by partnering with Medicaid and health providers, while implementing new technology to strengthen coordination.
The initiative comes in response to concerning maternal and infant health outcomes in the state. Last year, MSDH declared a public health emergency over the issue.
Mississippi’s most recent Public Health Report Card showed a rate of 9.2 deaths per 1,000 births, compared to 5.6 per 1,000 nationally. That number ranks the state as the worst in the U.S.
Mississippi’s maternal mortality rate stands at 23.2 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 18.6 per 100,000 nationally. The Mississippi Maternal Mortality Review Committee found that 83% of the maternal deaths it reviewed were preventable.