Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC)

The Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC) is an initiative of the Bureau of Family Health and an authorized agent of the Louisiana Commission on Perinatal Care and Prevention of Infant Mortality. LaPQC is a network of perinatal care providers, public health professionals, and advocates who work to improve outcomes for birthing persons, families, and newborns in Louisiana. Together, this team responds to the complex challenges birthing persons face during the perinatal period in order to improve population health and achieve equity.

For more information, contact Dr. Amy Ladley, PhD, State Perinatal Quality Program Manager.

***UPDATE: LaPQC has released the Reducing Maternal Morbidity Initiative final report! Click here to download.***

 LaPQC Priorities

The LaPQC provides support to hospitals for continuous quality improvement on perinatal outcomes. By building coordinated partnerships and aligning resources and efforts, we can move towards an increase in safer births and overall health outcomes. This partnership aligns with the Bureau of Family Health’s vision to make Louisiana a place where all people are valued to reach their full potential, from birth though the next generation. Currently, the LaPQC leads improvement work related to:

• breastfeeding and infant nutrition through The Gift;
• maternal mortality, morbidity, and birth outcomes through the Safe Births Initiative; and
• improving the identification, care, and treatment of birthing persons and newborns affected by opioids and substance use through the Improving Care for the Substance-Exposed Dyad (ICSED) Initiative.

To learn more about joining the LaPQC, contact Dr. Amy Ladley, PhD, State Perinatal Quality Program Manager.

Health Equity in Practice

Why do we say "birthing persons"? The LaPQC commits to using the term birthing person - rather than mom, mother, or woman – in an effort to be more inclusive and respectful of all identities. Similarly, out of respect for all kinds of relationships, the LaPQC uses the word partner to describe those individuals who support birthing persons and parents. Honoring an individual’s identity and experience is an important part of promoting safe, equitable, and dignified birth for all birthing persons in Louisiana.

To learn more about equity in communication, explore CDC's Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication.

Improving Care for the Substance-Exposed Dyad (ICSED)

In September 2021, the LaPQC will launch the Improving Care for the Substance-Exposed Dyad (ICSED) initiative. ICSED is a limited statewide project focused on improving care for birthing persons, parenting persons, and newborns affected by substance use. The ICSED Initiative will build on the work of LaPQC’s NOWS Pilot Project, conducted from May 2019 – July 2021. During ICSED, participating teams will use quality improvement science to improve screening, care, and treatment of substance use through a dyadic and multidisciplinary approach.

Click here for a list of the fourteen Louisiana birthing facilities participating in the Initiative’s first wave. For more information, contact Marci Brewer, MPH, Neonatal Initiatives Manager.

Birth Ready Designation

In an effort to recognize participating LaPQC facilities and create a system of sustained evidence-based change, the Collaborative now offers the Louisiana Birth Ready Designation. With two tiers of achievement – Louisiana Birth Ready and Louisiana Birth Ready+ – the Designation recognizes facilities' consistent, thoughtful healthcare improvement work. Birth Ready Designation also celebrates improved perinatal health outcomes, the result of implementing clinical practices that promote safe, equitable, and dignified birth for all birthing persons in Louisiana.

Each Designation level includes five areas of requirement: participation in collaborative learning; health disparity and patient partnership; policies and procedures; structures and education; and outcome and process measures. Many of the hospitals awarded Designation have been working for years with the LaPQC, implementing evidence-based best practices that address common causes of maternal mortality and morbidity related to hemorrhage and hypertension, as well as practices that promote vaginal birth. Hospitals receiving Birth Ready Designation did not pay for this honor; rather, facilities went through a rigorous application and review process by the LaPQC to receive Designation.

Click here to view the list of Louisiana hospitals that have achieved Birth Ready or Birth Ready+ Designation.

 Additional Information

	Reducing Maternal Morbidity Initiative: Reports The Reducing Maternal Morbidity Initiative Final Report Download to read the final results of the first Reducing Maternal Morbidity Initiative.  Early Findings from the Reducing Maternal Morbidity Initiative Download to read about early findings in the Reducing Maternal Morbidity Initiative's first report.
	For Participating Facilities Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Extranet Log into the IHI Extranet for data reporting.
	Helpful Links Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) This national data-driven maternal safety and quality improvement initiative is based on proven implementation approaches to improving maternal safety and outcomes in the U.S.  Data Center Find and download the Bureau of Family Health's data products, such as LaPQC reports and fact sheets. The Gift The Gift is an evidence-based program for Louisiana birthing facilities designed to increase breastfeeding rates and hospital success. Louisiana Perinatal Commission This commission was established to research and review all state regulations, guidelines, policies, and procedures that impact perinatal care. Louisiana Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review (PAMR) PAMR works to quantify and understand pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths in order to create actionable, comprehensive recommendations to prevent future deaths. Mortality Surveillance Our statewide Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Coordinators and mortality review teams work statewide to reduce and prevent maternal, infant, and child morbidity. What is a PQC? This video from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) describes perinatal quality collaboratives (PQCs) and their role in improving health outcomes.

	Contact Us If you’d like more information or are interested in collaborating with the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative, email LaPQC@la.gov. Visit the LaPQC Directory for specific leadership contact information.