Arizona AIM Collaborative
The maternal morbidity and mortality rate in Arizona continues to rise, with maternal mental health and substance use disorders contributing significantly to pregnancy-related deaths. As a leader in the effort to improve maternal mental health, the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA) collaborates with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) and key stakeholders statewide to bring leading evidence-based practices and safety bundles to the state.
The AIM safety bundles are specifically designed to address maternal morbidity and mortality. In March 2025, AzHHA and ADHS are excited to launch two new key AIM bundles to drive down mortality rates in Arizona. These bundles are the Perinatal Mental Health Conditions, and Care for Pregnant and Postpartum People with Substance Use Disorder bundles. Arizona will continue our work on the Obstetric Hemorrhage Bundle.
In 2025, the Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy Bundle will be retired due to its overwhelming success. Our goal of treating patients with severe hypertension within one hour has surpassed 80% for 2024. This achievement demonstrates our commitment to following ACOG recommendations to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with severe hypertension in pregnancy.
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Why is this important?
Findings in a report published by ADHS in January of 2024 include the following:
- Severe maternal morbidity—unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that lead to significant short- or long-term consequences to a woman’s health and wellbeing in addition to maternal mortality have increased nationally over the past decade.
- Among women in Arizona, severe maternal morbidity disproportionately affected American Indian/Alaska Native and Black women, women living below the federal poverty level, women living in rural counties and women with pre-existing chronic conditions, such as diabetes or chronic hypertension.
- In Arizona, approximately 71 pregnant or birthing persons dies within 365 days of pregnancy each year, of which, 87% per year were preventable, on average.
- From 2016-2017 to 2018-2019, we observed an increase in both pregnancy-associated mortality ratios (79.1 to 91.2 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) and pregnancy-related mortality ratios (18.3 to 26.3 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) by 15.3% and 43.7%, respectively.
- The most common underlying cause of pregnancy-related deaths was mental health conditions (32.6%, n=14), followed by cardiovascular conditions (20.9%, n=9), hemorrhage (16.3%, n=7) and infection (16.3%, n=7).
What is Arizona doing to improve maternal health?
Arizona has launched a number of initiatives, including surveillance of maternal morbidity and mortality, and the implementation of maternal health evidence-based practices and safety bundles before, during and after labor and delivery.
What is AIM?
Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) is a program used by hospitals and communities across the country to improve maternal safety through implementing best practices.
The AIM program works with state teams and health systems to achieve its goals.
More information on AIM can be found on the About AIM webpage.
AIM Maternal Safety Bundles
An AIM Maternal Safety Bundle is a collection of best practices for improving maternal care and outcomes. Experts in the field have vetted these practices to ensure their effectiveness. Each bundle focuses on a specific maternal health and safety topic.
Arizona AIM is currently working on the Obstetric Hemorrhage Bundle, the Perinatal Mental Health Conditions Bundle and Care for Pregnant and Postpartum People with Substance Use Disorder Bundle with an emphasis on health equity. More information on these bundles can be found on the AIM webpage.
Other bundles to be implemented in the future include:
- Cardiac conditions in obstetric care
- Postpartum discharge transition
- Sepsis in obstetrical care
- Safe reduction of primary cesarean births
Getting started
Any Arizona birthing facility can join the growing and engaged Arizona AIM community.
AzHHA provides help and can connect you to the Patient Safety Bundles, AIM tools, the AIM data portal and a community of support.
Enrollment is voluntary, and there is no cost or deadline to join.
Download AIM Program Badges
Enrolled facilities may use the digital badges which are intended to highlight involvement and engagement in the AIM program. Please read the AIM Program Badge Use Guide prior to using badges on digital materials.
For more information, please email [email protected].
DISCLAIMER: ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, AzHHA INTENDS ONLY TO PROVIDE RESOURCES THAT HOSPITALS MAY USE IN MAKING THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT PATIENT CARE. NO MATERIALS, ADVICE, DISCUSSION, COACHING OR OTHER INFORMATION PROVIDED BY AzHHA THROUGH THIS PROGRAM CREATES A STANDARD OF CARE OR TREATMENT. NOTHING PROVIDED BY AzHHA THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT.