Emergency departments are part of the maternal health solution: Findings from piloting an educational toolkit in Illinois

Background

In Illinois, an average of 88 pregnant and postpartum individuals died annually from 2018 to 2020. Of these, 66% had at least one emergency department (ED) visit. To improve maternal health outcomes, the Illinois Maternal Mortality Review Committees recommended ED education on obstetric care, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders (SUD).

Methods

From January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, the Maternal Health Emergency Department Toolkit (Toolkit) training was piloted in six diverse Illinois hospitals. The Toolkit's effectiveness was evaluated using electronic medical record (EMR) data to assess changes in practice within the ED.

Results

A total of 281 (63%) ED providers and staff completed the training. From pre- to post-pilot, EMR documentation of pregnancy or postpartum status in female patients of reproductive age increased from 56.4% to 83.4%, and screening pregnant and postpartum patients for mental health or SUD rose from 52.2% to 69.6%.

Conclusions

The Toolkit is an evidence-based training of educational modules that led to positive changes in ED provider and staff's practice when caring for pregnant and postpartum patients. By fostering education, engagement, and collaboration, the Toolkit has the potential to play a key role in helping reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in Illinois. The Toolkit is now available statewide for all Illinois EDs.