The Research & Educational Foundation of the Ohio Hospital Association

Maternal & Infant Health Infant Mortality: -OHA served on executive/steering committees for the Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative and Ohio March of Dimes. -OHA has a seat on the state of Ohio Commission on Infant Mortality and Ohio Newborn Advisory Steering Committee Breastfeeding: -The First Steps for Healthy Babies, a quarterly recognition program for hospitals implementing the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, was launched in March of 2015 in partnership with the Ohio Department of Health. In 2023, the program continued its reach to over 99% of the maternity hospitals in the state. -The First Steps program partnered with the Ohio Lactation Consultants Association (OLCA) and Ohio Breastfeeding Alliance (OBA) to revive a 'Bag Free' recognition program for hospitals. This program launched in early 2016 and was continued in 2022. 70 hospitals were recognized in 2023 for their work in 2022. -In 2023, Ohio First Steps expanded efforts around our new designation component to the program, recognizing hospitals' efforts to support and include fathers/partners in breastfeeding education. Maternal Health: -In 2020, OHA partnered with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), now the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (ODCY) to submit an application for Ohio to join the national ACOG program, the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM). This application was accepted in September 2020. Through the AIM work, Ohio has focused on the severe maternal hypertension and obstetric hemorrhage patient safety bundles. In 2023, Ohio wrapped up our third wave (of three) of the severe maternal hypertension bundle, and kicked off our second wave (of three) of the obstetric hemorrhage bundle. OHA served in an advisory role, as well as managed data collection and reporting for participating hospital sites. -OHA partnered with the Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative (OPQC) to launch a pilot project around maternal health equity called the Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful and Equitable Care project (CARE). OHA served in an advisory role, as well as managed data collection and reporting for participating hospital sites. -The OHA has been providing quarterly hospital benchmark reports on maternal health outcomes, including 'Severe Maternal Morbidity'. In 2022, OHA provided 369 total reports to member hospitals at no cost. -OHA served as a member and workgroup lead for the Ohio Council to Advance Maternal Health (OH-CAMH), led by the Ohio Department of Health. OHA also joined the Groundwork Ohio's Center for Maternal & Young Child Health Advisory Council. -OHA staff serve as a committee member on the Ohio Public Health Advisory Board, who review and make recommendations to the Director of the Ohio Department of Health on new and revised state rules.