Minneapolis-based M Health Fairview is improving culturally appropriate care and changing maternal screening practices in its commitment to health equity, according to an April 15 news release.
In late 2023, the health system launched the Birth Justice Initiative to eliminate racial bias in maternal healthcare and improve patient outcomes.
The group quickly discovered a gap in prenatal care. On average, Black, Indigenous and People of Color receive prenatal care at 12.6 weeks of pregnancy — which is considered late and presents a higher risk of complications — while their white counterparts are seen at 10.6 weeks.
White patients average 11 prenatal visits, while BIPOC patients average 9.7 visits.
In addition to efforts to minimize this difference in prenatal care, Fairview gathered feedback from more than 600 patients and doulas to rewrite policies on culturally congruent care.
For maternal health screenings, the Birth Justice Initiative removed race-based criteria from genetics screening to ensure equitable access to tests. The committee also found an inaccuracy in how the maternal serum screening calculated race for the probability of birth differences, such as spina bifida and Down syndrome. To correct this, M Health Fairview replaced the race and ethnicity-based formula with another that is universal and more accurate.
The system also adopted a trial of labor after cesarean tool that is not based on race because, historically, the calculations disproportionately flagged Black patients at a higher risk of complications from a vaginal birth after a previous C-section.
These changes will be rolled out systemwide in July, the news release said. Fairview is also introducing new maternal health screenings for social determinants of health and lead exposure.
