WellStar Health Systems has announced its participation in a multi-year, three-pronged initiative launched by the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) to improve the treatment of pregnancy-related complications. The first initiative focuses on improving the treatment of obstetric hemorrhage, one of the leading causes of death during labor and delivery.

Women in the United States experience greater risk of death from pregnancy-related complications than women in 46 other countries. While two to three women die every day in the United States from pregnancy-related complications, more than half of these deaths are preventable. Research suggests that women who have inductions of labor have a greater risk of experiencing postpartum hemorrhage. African-American women are disproportionately affected by birthing complications, with three to four times more deaths than women of all other racial and ethnic groups.

AWHONN's Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Project has gathered 54 birthing hospitals in Georgia and New Jersey to assess and improve clinical practices. "WellStar Cobb, Douglas and Kennestone hospitals are leading the charge for improving pregnancy and delivery care for women in Georgia," said Deborah Roegge De Vita, vice president, WellStar Women's and Pediatric Networks. "We're honored to participate in this initiative for improving health care for women and their newborns."

Supported by a grant from Merck for Mothers, AWHONN's Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Project is designed to: increase clinician recognition of women at greatest risk of obstetric hemorrhage; increase early recognition of women who are bleeding too much; increase the readiness of clinical team preparedness to successfully respond to obstetric hemorrhage; and improve clinician response to obstetric hemorrhage. Additional practice improvements will include identifying barriers to treating obstetric hemorrhage, sharing clinical best practices, and identifying how to more effectively implement similar improvements in all hospitals in the United States.