Arizona AIM Collaborative
The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA) has teamed up with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) and key stakeholders statewide to create the Arizona AIM Collaborative. As the Arizona AIM Collaborative’s leading organization, AzHHA will help hospitals and clinics in our state implement maternal evidence-based practices and safety bundles. Guided by a team of experts, our goal is to end preventable maternal death and severe maternal mortality.
Join us for the 2024 conference!
Program overview Download enrollment form 2023 AIM Collaborative Conference AIM bundle resources
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 Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy Bundle and the Obstetric Hemorrhage 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:
- Perinatal mental health conditions
- Care for pregnant and postpartum people with substance use disorder
- 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].