Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health: Consensus Bundle on Cardiac Conditions in Obstetric Care

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Obstetrics
• Public Health
• Health Equity

Background:

• Cardiac conditions are the primary cause of pregnancy-related mortality, disproportionately impacting non-Hispanic Black individuals.
• Many deaths result from undiagnosed cardiovascular disease and are preventable, with obstetric complications increasing future cardiovascular risk.
• Specialized care is crucial for pregnant individuals with cardiac risk factors or existing heart disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide guidance for developing coordinated, multidisciplinary care for pregnant and postpartum individuals with cardiac conditions.
• To outline strategies for responding to cardio-obstetric emergencies.
• To integrate respectful, equitable care and health equity considerations into all domains of cardio-obstetric care.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Cardiac Conditions in Obstetric Care patient safety bundle by the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health.
• Organization of the bundle into five domains: Readiness, Recognition and Prevention, Response, Reporting and Systems Learning, and Respectful Care.
• Integration of health equity considerations across all bundle domains.

Main Results:

• The bundle offers condition-specific clinical practices for healthcare teams.
• It emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to patient care and emergency response.
• It introduces 'Respectful Care' as a core domain, promoting equitable and supportive patient experiences.

Conclusions:

• Implementing this bundle can improve care coordination and reduce preventable morbidity and mortality in pregnant and postpartum individuals with cardiac conditions.
• The inclusion of Respectful Care and health equity considerations addresses critical disparities in maternal cardiac care.
• This initiative supports the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health's goal of enhancing patient safety in obstetric care.