Overview of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives and their activities to advance perinatal healthcare in the USA, 2022–2023

INTRODUCTION: Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQCs) are state multidisciplinary teams working to improve maternal and infant healthcare by implementing quality improvement (QI) initiatives and other activities (initiatives/activities). This study aimed to improve understanding of the scope of PQCs and their work across the USA from 2022 to 2023. METHODS: The National Network of PQCs conducted an online assessment of PQCs representing all 50 US states and the District of Columbia during May-July 2023. While the assessment included some historical questions, most questions asked PQCs to report on work conducted from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. Descriptive statistics of assessment data-including PQC characteristics, participation, community partner engagement, QI initiatives, and activities-were calculated. RESULTS: The 45 responding PQCs were primarily housed in departments of health (35.6%), academic institutions (33.3%), or non-profit organisations (22.2%). Sixty-two percent of PQCs were established within the past 10 years (2014-2023). On average, 72.6% of birthing hospitals in each state participated in their PQC. Among the 26 PQCs with neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) participation, an average of 77.1% of NICUs in the state participated in their PQC. Thirty-two PQCs (71.1%) engaged with ≥1 patient/family member, and 30 PQCs (66.7%) engaged with ≥1 community-based organisation. PQCs reported on 195 initiatives/activities that they worked on during the reporting period. Twenty-six PQCs (57.8%) were working on 3-5 initiatives/activities. Most initiatives/activities were maternal-focused (n=105, 54.4%), followed by mother-infant-dyad-focused (n=53, 27.5%), and neonatal-focused (n=30, 15.5%). The most frequent initiative/activity topics were hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; substance use disorders among pregnant women; respectful care and non-medical factors that impact health; neonatal abstinence syndrome; and mental health among pregnant/postpartum women. CONCLUSION: These findings illustrate the breadth of PQC work and how PQCs could contribute to national efforts to improve perinatal care.