This month’s focus is on the new requirements for Maternal safety that The Joint Commission will implement January 2021.  In this selection, we have included a checklist of new expectations with associated evidenced-based resources that can help you align your maternal hemorrhage safety plan accordingly.

The U.S. maternal mortality rate has more than doubled since 1987, now at 17.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Maternal hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal deaths worldwide and is responsible for 11.2% of maternal deaths in the nation. Common reasons for deaths by maternal hemorrhage relate to clinicians missing or miscommunicating signs of active blood loss, underestimating the extent of blood loss, and a lack of standardized safety responses. New requirements released by The Joint Commission address Maternal Hemorrhage safety and guide organizations in addressing this danger proactively.