Establishing a PaTH Clinical Research Network Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Stakeholder Council

Project leads: Seuli Brill, MD & Norah Crossnohere, PhD, The Ohio State University

Purpose: The PaTH MOMS council will identify pertinent opportunities to improve maternal health through the lens of lived experiences. The research agenda will be informed by collaborations between stakeholders that include trust building and core values exercises, introductions into the principles of co-learning, discussions in patient-centered outcomes research/comparative clinical effectiveness research design and journey mapping.

Approach: PaTH MOMS brings together partners representing the entire PaTH region who represent patient, community, clinical and research perspectives to develop PaTH maternal morbidity and mortality research priorities informed by lived experience.

Activities:

• All Hands 1: Building trust (to demonstrate the PaTH MOMS program’s commitment to inclusivity both within the group and in MMM research generally)
• Capacity Building: Intro to co-learning (to orient PaTH MOMS to the principles of co-learning and inclusivity in stakeholder engagement)
• Capacity Building: Intro to PCOR/CER (to orient PaTH MOMS to the principles of PCOR and CER and how they can improve patient-centeredness in medicine)
• All Hands 2: Mapping the Patient Journey (to describe experiences of patients in the peripartum period)
• PaTH MOMS Newsletter (quarterly newsletter describing related research projects and resources/support)
• Research Priorities Table (patient-identified research priorities addressing the MMM crisis)

SMART(IE) Goals Example: Health Systems Priority for Black Moms

• Specific: To provide comprehensive postpartum wraparound services tailored to the unique needs of Black moms, including mental health support, healthcare services, parenting education, and community resources.
• Measurable: To serve 20 Black mothers monthly, ensuring that 80% of moms report satisfaction with the services and show measurable improvement in overall well-being.
• Achievable: Delivered by trained community health workers from the community, doulas, and mental health professionals, in collaboration with local health systems.
• Relevant: Addressing the disparities and producing a culturally sensitive & health environment in care faced by Black mothers, improving both physical and mental health outcomes for their families and in the community.
• Time-bound: Implemented and evaluated over a 36-month postpartum timeframe, with weekly check-ins the first 6 months followed by monthly, if goals achieved, for the remainder to track progress and adjust as needed.
• Inclusive: Ensure the inclusion of Black moms from various socio-economic backgrounds (e.g., working poor) and those with diverse family structures, ensuring that no one is left out of the program due to financial or cultural barriers.
• Equitable: Ensuring that services are provided in a way that acknowledges and addresses the historical and systemic inequities Black mothers face, offering culturally appropriate care and support tailored to their specific needs.

PaTH Partners:

• The Ohio State University
• University of Pittsburgh
• Geisinger Health System
• Johns Hopkins University
• Penn State College of Medicine
• Temple University
• University of Michigan

Sponsor: The Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Coordinating Center: The Ohio State University College of Medicine

How to participate: Email us at PaTHMOMS.OSU@gmail.com