Using quality improvement to address social determinants of health needs in perinatal care.

There are unacceptable racial inequities in perinatal outcomes in the United States. Social determinants of health (SDOH) are associated with health outcomes and contribute to disparities in maternal and newborn health. In this article, we (1) review the literature on SDOH improvement in the perinatal space, (2) describe the SDOH work facilitated by the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ILPQC) in the Birth Equity quality improvement initiative, (3) detail a hospital's experience with implementing strategies to improve SDOH screening and linkage to needed resources and services and (4) outline a framework for success for addressing SDOH locally.

A Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Quality Improvement Model to Optimize Perinatal and Primary Care in the Community Health Setting.

Purpose: Many maternal deaths occur beyond the acute birth encounter. There are opportunities for improving maternal health outcomes through facilitated quality improvement efforts in community settings, particularly in the postpartum period. We used a mixed methods approach to evaluate a collaborative quality improvement (QI) model in 6 Chicago Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that implemented workflows optimizing care continuity in the extended postpartum period for high-risk prenatal patients.

A Nationwide Sample of Adolescents and Young Adults Share Where They Would Go Online for Abortion Information After Dobbs v. Jackson.

Purpose: Given the changing landscape of abortion access, we sought to understand where adolescents and young adults retrieve information about abortion online.

Methods: A nationwide sample (n = 638) of 14- to 24-year-olds responded to a qualitative text message survey in July 2022 regarding websites or social media they would use for abortion-related information. Open-ended responses were coded and analyzed for themes.

Incidental Finding of Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm After Trauma: A Case Report.

Appendiceal neoplasms are uncommon; most are identified by pathologic examination after appendectomy for presumed appendicitis or as an incidental finding. When found incidentally, patients are typically asymptomatic. If the neoplasm has perforated, patients may present with symptoms that mimic acute appendicitis.

Enhanced Surveillance for Histoplasmosis-9 States, 2018-2019.

Background: Histoplasmosis is often described as the most common endemic mycosis in the United States, but much remains unknown about its epidemiology among the general population.

Methods: We conducted enhanced surveillance in 9 states during 2018-2019 by identifying cases through routine surveillance and interviewing 301 patients about their clinical features and exposures.

Results: Before being tested for histoplasmosis, 60% saw a health care provider ≥3 times, and 53% received antibacterial medication.