How to Improve Maternal Health: 7 Hints for Hospitals

A focus on how to improve maternal health has become one of the most urgent, and measurable, performance indicators for U.S. health systems. Despite significant clinical advances, the United States continues to experience higher maternal mortality and morbidity rates than peer nations, with many cases considered preventable.

How to improve maternal health

For acute care leaders, the question is no longer whether to act, but how leading health systems are operationalizing change. A focus on how to improve maternal health is critical. Below, we break down the most impactful, evidence-based strategies shaping maternal outcomes today. 

1. Scaling data-driven, systemwide quality improvement 

Health systems are increasingly aligning around structured, data-first maternal quality programs. 

A key example is the HHS Perinatal Improvement Collaborative, a network of 200+ hospitals capturing over 150 clinical and social determinants data points to guide evidence-based interventions. These collaboratives enable: 

• Real-time benchmarking across hospitals  

• Standardization of protocols (e.g., hemorrhage, hypertension)  

• Identification of disparities at the population level  

Similarly, HRSA-funded initiatives are helping health centers deploy patient-centered care delivery models focused on high-risk populations and social needs. 

What this means for decision-makers: Maternal improvement is shifting from isolated initiatives to enterprise-wide performance systems, requiring interoperable data, governance, and continuous measurement. 

2. Expanding access across the continuum of care 

Health systems are addressing one of the root drivers of poor outcomes: inconsistent access before and after birth. 

One of the most significant policy-enabled changes is the extension of Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months, improving continuity of care for hundreds of thousands of patients. This aligns with broader system efforts to: 

• Reduce care fragmentation in the “fourth trimester”  

• Improve chronic condition management (e.g., hypertension, cardiovascular disease)  

• Ensure follow-up after discharge  

The American Hospital Association emphasizes that improving outcomes requires care across the full continuum of care, including community partnerships and post-acute engagement. 

What this means for decision-makers: Leading systems are redesigning maternal care pathways beyond episodic delivery care and toward cross-functional coordinated care models. 

3. Addressing health equity and social determinants of health 

Disparities remain one of the most persistent challenges. For example, Black and Native American women experience significantly higher maternal mortality rates than White women. 

To close these gaps, health systems are: 

• Embedding social needs screening into maternal workflows  

• Partnering with community-based organizations  

• Investing in doulas, midwives, and culturally competent care models  

Community-driven partnerships, such as those highlighted by the Commonwealth Fund, demonstrate that public-private partnerships (healthcare + housing + public health) can improve both maternal and infant outcomes 

What this means for decision-makers: Equity strategies are no longer helpful things to consider. Instead, they are central to quality performance, reimbursement, and community benefit outcomes. 

4. Standardizing clinical protocols for high-risk conditions 

Health systems are focusing heavily on the leading clinical drivers of maternal mortality: 

• Cardiovascular conditions  

• Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy  

• Infection and sepsis  

Federal initiatives highlight targeted quality improvement programs addressing these areas, including hypertension control and evidence-based safety bundles. 

At scale, these efforts are reinforced by national frameworks and safety initiatives that promote: 

• Rapid response protocols  

• Simulation training  

• Standardized escalation pathways  

What this means for decision-makers: Reducing maternal mortality increasingly depends on reliability science. Ensure every patient receives the same high-quality, evidence-based care. 

5. Integrating maternal mental health into care delivery 

Maternal mental health has emerged as a leading driver of adverse outcomes. In fact, maternal mental illness is a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States. 

Health systems are responding with integrated behavioral health strategies: 

• 24/7 maternal mental health hotlines and tele-support services  

• Real-time psychiatric consultation programs for clinicians  

• Screening and treatment for postpartum depression and anxiety  

• Integration of substance use disorder care into prenatal/postpartum workflows  

At the federal level, HHS has prioritized maternal mental health through a national task force and expanded access to coordinated care models  

What this means for decision-makers: Behavioral health integration is no longer optional. You have a moral, medical, and legal obligation to maintain positive maternal outcomes and reduce preventable deaths. 

6. Leveraging community-based and non-clinical interventions 

Innovative health systems are extending beyond traditional clinical care by addressing non-medical drivers of outcomes. 

Emerging models include: 

• Maternal health navigators to guide patients through pregnancy and postpartum  

• Home visiting programs and remote monitoring  

• Transportation, nutrition, and childcare support  

Evidence shows that addressing these barriers improves appointment adherence, increases full-term births, and supports healthier outcomes. 

What this means for decision-makers: The most effective maternal health strategies integrate clinical care with social support infrastructure. 

7. Building a measurement framework for accountability 

Finally, health systems are aligning around standardized measurement frameworks to track progress. 

Federal efforts emphasize: 

• Defining consistent maternal outcome metrics  

• Linking maternal and infant data  

• Evaluating program effectiveness at scale  

These frameworks enable health systems to move from initiative-based improvement to outcome-based accountability. 

How to improve maternal health: Key strategies for health systems 

For quick reference, here are the most effective ways hospitals are improving maternal health: 

• Implement data-driven quality improvement programs  

• Expand access across the full continuum of care  

• Address health equity and social determinants  

• Standardize care for high-risk conditions  

• Integrate maternal mental health services  

• Invest in community-based support models  

• Build strong measurement and accountability frameworks 

Final thoughts: A systemwide approach to improving maternal health 

For healthcare leaders, a focus on how to improve maternal health is no longer a narrow clinical question, but a systemwide strategic priority. 

Success requires: 

• Cross-functional alignment (clinical, operational, community)  

• Longitudinal care models  

• Data transparency and accountability  

• A sustained commitment to equity  

Health systems that lead in maternal outcomes will be those that move beyond programs and adopt enterprise-wide, community-connected strategies to improve maternal health at scale.