N.J. Perinatal Collaborative Receives CDC Grant

PRINCETON, N.J., Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New Jersey can expand its work to support healthy moms and babies thanks to a grant of up to $1 million over the course of five years from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The New Jersey Perinatal Quality Collaborative is one of 13 state organizations awarded funding from the CDC to improve the quality of perinatal care throughout the state.

Through the Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQCs) cooperative agreement, the CDC has awarded funding to improve perinatal care in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Wisconsin.

As of September 2017, the funding will support the work of PQCs, which are state or multi-state networks of teams working to improve the quality of care for mothers and babies. The New Jersey PQC is led by the New Jersey Hospital Association's Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET).  

Specific efforts to be addressed by this award include:

• Reducing preterm births.
• Reducing severe pregnancy complications associated with high blood pressure and hemorrhage.
• Improving identification of and care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
• Reducing racial/ethnic and geographic disparities.
• Reducing cesarean births among low-risk pregnant women.

"We want every baby to get the best start possible in New Jersey," said Aline Holmes, DNP, RN, senior vice president of clinical affairs at NJHA and director of the HRET. "This funding will help us provide evidence-based care for all mothers, babies and families."

The New Jersey Perinatal Quality Collaborative has already worked to cut the early-elective delivery rate in the state nearly in half, and birthing hospitals around the state reduced adverse obstetric events by 34 percent, saving the state more than $34 million from 2012 to 2016 as part of the Partnership for Patients initiative.

For more information on quality improvement efforts for mothers and babies from HRET, visit www.njha.com//quality-patient-safety/provider-resources/maternalchild-health/.

The Health Research and Educational Trust of New Jersey engages in research and educational activities that support healthcare providers in delivering accessible, affordable and quality care and in fostering wellness in their communities. HRET promotes healthcare improvement strategies through scientific research and quality educational initiatives and resources, often partnering with federal and state agencies, corporations, hospitals and other healthcare providers.

SOURCE New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA)