Be Validated: Using the AIM SMM Validation Workbook to Check Your Work

Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is defined as unexpected outcomes during the delivery hospitalization that result in significant short- and long-term consequences to a person’s health. While the definition of SMM has remained consistent over the years, the way we calculate the rate changes as diagnostic and procedure codes are updated. Ensuring accuracy presents a challenge, especially as the measure’s algorithm changes. To address this, AIM created the SMM Validation Workbook.

Designed for state-level quality collaboratives, health departments, hospital associations, health systems, and hospitals that calculate SMM, this workbook includes test code and synthetic data with known, expected results to help analysts verify their implementation of the SMM calculation algorithm.

During this interactive session, MCH Epidemiologist and AIM Consultant Dr. David Laflamme will orient attendees to the SMM Validation Workbook and demonstrate how to use it. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and to sign up for individualized technical assistance related to the SMM Validation Workbook.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Articulate why regular SMM calculation validation is necessary
• Describe the contents of the SMM Validation Workbook and how each component should be used
• Identify the resources needed to implement the SMM Validation Workbook

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