UnitedHealthcare and Tennessee Program for Perinatal Quality Care (TIPQC), based in Nashville, announced a maternal health initiative focused at improving maternal and baby health outcomes and equity across the state. The effort will focus on maternal hypertension and hemorrhage simulation training for hospitals in Tennessee, as well as enhance remote monitoring capabilities for perinatal patients, thanks to $280,000 in funding from UnitedHealthcare.
- Training: Hospitals in Bedford, Blount, Cocke, Cumberland, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Greene, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hardin, Henry, Knox, Madison, Maury, Montgomery, Obion, Overton, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby, Smith, Sullivan, Sumner, Tipton, Warren, and Washington will provide train-the-trainer model training for maternal and infant clinical staff by county.
- Disparity: “It is unacceptable that Black women in the U.S. has at least twice the rate of severe maternal morbidity, and are at least three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications, compared to white women,” said Keith Payet, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee. “We hope this new partnership is an important step toward addressing a leading cause of severe maternal morbidity and helps improve health outcomes in Tennessee.”
- Health outcomes: UnitedHealthcare understands that poor maternal health outcomes continue to be prevalent among American women, with Black women and newborns bearing a disproportionate share of the burden. According to the March of Dimes, Tennessee has a higher than normal preterm birth rate, at 11.2 percent compared to 10.2 percent nationally, and a 14.7 percent preterm birth rate among Black women. This is 44% greater than the average rate for all women.
- Infant mortality: Additionally, the maternal mortality rate in Tennessee is among the worst in the nation at 26.2 per 100,000 live births. Tennessee also has one of the country’s highest infant mortality rates, with the CDC reporting 563 infant deaths since 2019. This ranks Tennessee 45th out of the 50 states.
- Simulations: “Simulation training has proven to be beneficial in improving outcomes of high-risk pregnancy conditions. Standardization of treatment and protocols has been shown to decrease maternal mortality and morbidity in all patients, with the largest improvement in outcomes in women of color,” said Dr. Connie Graves, TIPQC statewide project lead. “UnitedHealthcare’s decision to support a statewide simulation effort means that we can improve care for all pregnancies across the state of Tennessee and decrease disparities for both mother and babies.”