Deaths among new mothers continue to be a problem in Texas.
In 2012, the last year for which data is available, Texas’ maternal death rate was 14.6 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is near the national average of 15.9, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, there are steps that can help curb the number of maternal deaths, including early recognition and response to abnormal vital signs through early warning systems.
Those systems work to expedite specific responses to vital signs that are associated with adverse maternal outcomes such as preeclampsia, sepsis, cardiovascular complications, and hypovolemia.
If you’d like to learn more about maternal early warning systems, make plans to attend a Department of State Health Services’ Grand Rounds presentation next week.
Presented by Catherine Squire Eppes, MD, and Christina M. Davidson, MD – both of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston – the webinar will focus on the causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in Texas, the evidence behind systems of early warning recognition, and the parallels between Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) bundles and maternal early warning systems.
Register here for the free presentation, which is scheduled for 12:30 pm (CT), Wednesday, Oct. 9. You can attend the presentation via phone, webinar, or in person.
The Texas Medical Association is committed to improving the health and lives of Texas mothers. Find more information about maternal mortality and morbidity on the TMA website.