In 2017, West Virginia’s rate of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) among people with preeclampsia, excluding blood transfusions alone, was 7.6%. In response, the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership recruited all 21 birthing facilities in the state to implement AIM’s Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy patient safety bundle in Q2 of 2020. To support implementation, the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership provided patient education materials to birthing facilities and implemented a home blood pressure monitoring program to encourage early recognition of severe hypertension during pregnancy and postpartum. Between Q4 2020 and Q1 2022, the percentage of facilities that had established unit policies and procedures to respond to hypertensive emergencies increased from 23.8% to 71.4%. Additionally, the statewide rate of SMM among people with preeclampsia decreased from 7.6% in 2017 to 5.4% in 2021, a reduction of 28.9%. The West Virginia Perinatal Partnership continues to support facilities in the state by providing education to rural Emergency Departments and facilitating opportunities for collaborative learning.
