Oklahoma Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative

03/30/2026

From prenatal care through delivery and postpartum, physicians play a critical role in improving outcomes, strengthening patient trust, and ensuring families receive safe, evidence-based care. Their leadership in quality improvement efforts across the state continues to make a measurable difference.

At OPQIC, we are grateful for the physicians who partner with nurses, midwives, and care teams to advance initiatives like TeamBirth, support respectful maternity care, and drive better outcomes for all patients.

Thank you for your dedication, your expertise, and your commitment to Oklahoma families.

03/30/2026

📊 New CDC Data: Induction of Labor Continues to Rise in the U.S.

A new CDC Data Brief highlights a significant shift in maternity care:
• Labor induction increased from 24.9% in 2016 to 34.5% in 2024
• That’s a 39% increase in less than a decade
• Rates rose across all age groups, racial and ethnic groups, and nearly every state
• The largest increases were seen in early-term births (37–38 weeks)

Induction of labor can be a critical, evidence-based tool when medically indicated. At the same time, these trends underscore the importance of:
✔️ Clear, shared decision-making between patients and care teams
✔️ Aligning practice with evidence-based guidelines
✔️ Ensuring inductions before 39 weeks occur only when medically necessary

Read the CDC's report: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db554.htm

03/27/2026

Sharing this webinar opportunity from Quality in Action, ACOG's Patient Safety Organization!

Mark your calendars for our April Page to Practice lecture, which will focus on practical, trauma‑informed approaches to caring for patients and families affected by severe maternal morbidity (SMM). During this session, we will explore how SMM can impact emotional, psychological, and physical well‑being and learn strategies to minimize distress, strengthen communication, and promote recovery.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/e_uXvgFA

This opportunity was posted by Quality in Action on LinkedIn. Follow them on LinkedIn for more webinar opportunities like this!

03/27/2026

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is an unexpected life-threatening complication. It can affect both mother and baby. It is thought to result from an allergic-like reaction to the fluid that enters the mother’s bloodstream. It can occur during labor or soon after delivery.

While AFE is unpredictable and not preventable, awareness is critical. Rapid recognition, immediate response, and coordinated care can save lives. Today, we honor the families affected, support ongoing research, and recognize the healthcare teams who act quickly in these critical moments.

Join us on March 27th at 9:15pm EST for the AFE Awareness Candlelight Vigil ✨🕯️

As AFE Awareness Day approaches, we invite you to gather with us for a meaningful evening of remembrance. Together, we will honor the lives touched by Amniotic Fluid Embolism, hold space for grieving families, and uplift one another in community and hope.

📅 Friday, March 27
⏰ 9:15 PM EST
📹Streaming live on Facebook, Instagram, and via the link in our bio

Light a candle. Share a moment. Stand with us as we shine a light for every mother, every family, and every story. 💙

03/25/2026

Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) remains high in the United States. In our new committee statement, we outline measurement and improvement strategies, including multidisciplinary case review and support for health care professionals and patients who experience SMM, to enhance quality and safety of care.

Our new patient safety organization, Quality in Action, can help teams implement this guidance in real-world settings through support for systematic SMM review, data-informed learning, and actionable quality improvement.

Read the full committee statement: https://bit.ly/3PZo08Z

03/24/2026

When are pregnancy-related deaths happening in Oklahoma? The answer may surprise you.

The 2025 Oklahoma Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) Report shows that most pregnancy-related deaths do NOT happen during delivery.

➡️ Nearly 60% occur in the postpartum period (up to 1 year after pregnancy)
Breaking it down further (2018–2022 data):
• 20.9% occurred during pregnancy
• 18.6% on the day of delivery
• 44.2% within the first 42 days postpartum
• 16.3% occurred 43 days to 1 year postpartum

👉 This reinforces a critical takeaway:
Maternal health doesn’t end at discharge. The postpartum period is a high-risk window that requires continued support, follow-up, and early recognition of warning signs.

The MMRC report gives us more than data, it gives direction. Many of these deaths are preventable, and strengthening postpartum care is one of the most impactful opportunities to save lives.

Read the full MMRC report here:https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/health/health2/aem-documents/family-health/maternal-and-child-health/maternal-health-task-force/MMRC%20Annual%20Full%20Report%202025.pdf

03/24/2026

The Ask Me 5 campaign is a Missouri maternal health initiative that uses five simple, structured questions to improve provider–patient communication and identify preventable risks during pregnancy and postpartum.

03/23/2026

An ACOG Practice Advisory Revisited.

As a result of the CHAP study, ACOG released its 2022 Practice Advisory, Clinical Guidance for the Integration of the Findings of the Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy (CHAP) Study. ACOG now recommends using 140/90 (either systolic or diastolic) as the threshold for starting or adjusting medication for chronic hypertension in pregnancy, rather than the previous threshold of 160/110. This recommendation is endorsed by both ACOG and SMFM. Learn more: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-advisory/articles/2022/04/clinical-guidance-for-the-integration-of-the-findings-of-the-chronic-hypertension-and-pregnancy-chap-study

An example of the value of federally funded medical research: The NHLBI-funded CHAP trial provided important data to inform the management of hypertension in pregnancy and led to SMFM recommending treatment with antihypertensive therapy for mild chronic hypertension in pregnancy to a goal blood pressure of

03/23/2026

We strongly supports using maternal mortality data to inform programs and interventions to reduce the high maternal mortality rate in the United States. In this Special Statement, we outline the three types of maternal mortality data used in the United States; provide an overview of the common US data sources; and offer considerations and best practices for understanding, comparing, and using the data.

Read the special statement here: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pmf2.70270

03/19/2026

Strong teams build safer outcomes. Join us for an upcoming webinar exploring how aligning interdisciplinary teams strengthens perinatal quality and safety. Learn how to build a culture of quality, understand the psychology behind change, and select meaningful QI projects that lead to sustainable practice change.

This session is ideal for nurse leaders, frontline staff, and anyone passionate about improving perinatal care. Register today! https://bit.ly/3OAZn25

03/18/2026

Cesarean delivery on maternal request: the essential role of professional obligations https://ow.ly/iqPP50YrxLx

03/18/2026

The (OPNF) Winter Boot Camp is officially a wrap!

This annual training brings together perinatal nurses from across Oklahoma for several days of high-quality, hands-on learning designed specifically for those new to obstetric and newborn care. From labor and delivery fundamentals to newborn stabilization and OB emergencies, Boot Camp equips nurses with evidence-based knowledge and practical skills they can immediately apply at the bedside.

A special thank you to The University of Oklahoma College of Nursing for hosting this year’s Boot Camp at their state-of-the-art simulation lab. The opportunity to learn in a realistic, hands-on environment is invaluable and elevates the experience for every participant. We also appreciate the for providing space for the didactic learning sessions.

We’re proud that Oklahoma Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative helps facilitate this important work, with leadership from Katie Morgan BSN, RN, who facilitated this year’s Boot Camp and helped create a meaningful learning experience for nurses across the state.

We also want to extend our gratitude to the nurse leaders from hospitals across Oklahoma who shared their expertise and led learning sessions. Your willingness to teach, mentor, and collaborate is what makes this program so impactful. Thank you for all you do!