MA Levels of Maternal Care Initiative
PNQIN and MPQC invite and encourage birthing hospitals in Massachusetts to participate in a new statewide initiative to reduce severe maternal morbidity and mortality and eliminate inequities. This initiative works by ensuring that expectant parents are cared for at hospitals with the resources and personnel to manage their unique needs.
"Moms are not just vessels for babies;
they need their own safety levels."
- Dr. Ronald Iverson, MPQC Co-Chair
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are promoting an improved method for regionalization of care based on maternal condition; this is called Levels of Maternal Care. It is similar to the Neonatal Levels of Care model but focuses instead on the pregnant person. PNQIN is engaged in this initiative to explore how Levels of Maternal Care effort could benefit the Commonwealth.
Congratulations and thank you to all 40 MA hospitals who have completed LOCATe!!!
Click through the tabs below to learn more about Levels of Maternal Care!
If you have additional questions, concerns, or feedback about the Massachusetts Levels of Maternal Care Initiative or the CDC LOCATe® Tool, please contact Dr. Sarah Rae Easter (seaster@pnqinma.org) or Kali Vitek (PNQINAdmin@pnqinma.org).
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WebinarsWe are hosting a monthly webinar series on the first Tuesday of every month, from 1pm-2pm. Please email Mary Houghton for more information.
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MPQC Maternal Opioid Use During Pregnancy ToolkitClick HERE to access the MPQC Maternal Opioid Use During Pregnancy Toolkit. This toolkit was developed by all the maternal health providers that encompass the Massachusetts Perinatal Quality Collaborative, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, Boston Medical Center’s STATE OBAT-B, and Institute for Health and Recovery. Additional thanks goes to Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP for Moms) and Massachusetts Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network with whom the initial document was conceptualized.'
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Hospital ResourcesClick here to access a collection of policies, guidelines, and educational materials developed by different hospitals engaged in our collaborative.
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Plan of Safe CareThe Plan of Safe Care is a document created jointly by a pregnant or parenting woman, and her provider. This document helps women to think about what services or supports they might find useful, to record their preparations to parent and organize the care and services they are receiving. To view more information and see templates of a plan of safe care, click here. As part of the statewide initiative around plans of safe care, DPH and IHR have developed a robust web-based repository with searchable, geographically-organized substance use resources for pregnant and parenting women. The repository can be found on the IHR website here.
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Anna Jaques Hospital
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Baystate Franklin Medical Center
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Baystate Medical Center
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Berkshire Medical Center
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Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth
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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
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Beverly Hospital
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Boston Medical Center
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Brigham and Women's Hospital
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Cambridge Health Alliance
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Cape Cod Hospital
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Charlton Memorial Hospital
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Cooley Dickinson Hospital
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Emerson Hospital
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Fairview Hospital
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Good Samaritan Medical Center
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Heywood Hospital
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Holy Family Hospital
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Lawrence General Hospital
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Lowell General Hospital
21. Martha's Vineyard Hospital
22. Massachusetts General Hospital
23. MelroseWakefield Hospital
24. Mercy Medical Center
25. MetroWest Medical Center
26. Milford Regional Medical Center
27. Mount Auburn Hospital
28. Nantucket Cottage Hospital
29. Newton Wellesley Hospital
30. North Shore Medical Center
31. Saint Elizabeth's Medical Center
32. Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital
33. South Shore Hospital
34. St. Vincent Hospital
35. St. Luke's Hospital
36. Sturdy Memorial Hospital
37. Tufts Medical Center
38. UMass Memorial HealthCare
39. UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital
40. Winchester Hospital

The CDC has highlighted PNQIN's use of the CDC LOCATe® Tool in Massachusetts birthing hospitals to address racial and ethnic disparities and ensure all pregnant and birthing people have access to the appropriate level of care.
Read about it here!