Birthing Centers receive recognition for hypertension initiative

Date: 07/25/2023

Congratulations to the birthing centers at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, Inland Hospital, and Mercy Hospital for being recognized with an award for the work they are doing to address maternal hypertension at the statewide Perinatal Quality Collaborative conference.
Last year, these hospitals joined the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health, or AIM, which is a national data-driven maternal safety and quality improvement initiative that works to reduce preventable mortality and severe morbidity in women who are pregnant. Since last year, Northern Light Mayo, Maine Coast, and AR Gould hospitals have also joined.

High blood pressure during pregnancy is common and happens in 1 in every 12 to 17 pregnancies among women ages 20 to 44. This can put the mother and her baby at risk for problems during the pregnancy and may also cause problems during and after delivery.

“The AIM Maternal Hypertension Initiative is one way that the Northern Light Women's Health Service Line is prioritizing maternal care. The clinicians and nursing staff are all working together to employ evidence-based practices, maintain education on the topic, and providing excellent patient outcomes and experience,” explains Olamide Sobowale, MD, FACOG, FRCSC, medical director, Women’s Health Service Line. “This award signifies our participation from the inception of the initiative. A small group of hospitals participated before it became a statewide initiative, and we’re proud we are a part of something that can affect so many from the beginning.”

The participation in this initiative is important so that like other hospitals across the state we are maintaining excellent management of hypertension in maternal care. It provides algorithms and proven evidence-based techniques to improve maternal health outcomes in hypertension as well. There are various metrics that Northern Light Health is committed to meeting and measuring to help with sustainability of the outcomes. Some of these metrics included as part of this initiative are timely treatment of hypertensive blood pressures, participation in drills, and continuing education.