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The Washington State Maternal Mortality Review Panel first convened in 2016 in accordance with RCW 70.54.450. The Department of Health is directed by law to convene a multidiscplinary review panel to conduct comprehensive reviews of maternal deaths in the state to identify factors surrounding the deaths and make recommendations to policy makers for healthcare and systems changes to improve perinatal care for all people in Washington. The panel currently has 72 members from across the state, meets throughout the year, and with the Department of Health, reviews all pregnancy-associated deaths to determine if they are pregnancy related and preventable. In 2016, there were 90,489 live births in Washington and a total of 9 pregnancy-related deaths. Our mission is to reduce maternal mortality and inequities in maternal mortality throughout the state, develop a better understanding of how social determinants of health impact maternal health outcomes, increase awareness of the factors cotnributing to maternal mortality and morbidity, and improve the overall wellbeing of parents and families in our state.

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Contacts
Primary
Name
Deborah (Debs) Gardner
Credentials
MFA, MPH
Title
Maternal Mortality Review Coordinator
Affiliation
Washington State Department of Health
MMRC Role
Coordinator
Email
deborah.gardner@doh.wa.gov
Secondary
Name
Caroline Sedano
Credentials
MPH
Title
Perinatal Unit Program Manager
Affiliation
Washington State Department of Health
MMRC Role
Management, Support
Email
caroline.sedano@doh.wa.gov
Secondary
Name
Ellen Silverman
Credentials
RN, PhD
Title
Public Health Nurse Consultant
Affiliation
Washington State Department of Health
MMRC Role
Abstractor
Email
ellen.silverman@doh.wa.gov
Sources of Funding
ERASE MM
Yes
STATE MATERNAL HEALTH INNOVATION
No
TITLE V MCH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
Yes
STATE BUDGET
Yes
Scope of cases reviewed
All pregnancy-associated deaths (All deaths of women while pregnant or within one year of the end of pregnancy, due to any cause)
Individuals, Disciplines, and Organizations Represented on Review
Organizations Core Disciplines Specialty Disciplines
Academic Institutions
Behavioral Health Agencies
Community-Based Doula Program
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Hospitals/Hospital Association
Private and Public Insurers
Professional Assoc. State Chapters
State Medicaid Agency
State Medical Society
State Title V Program
Tribal Organizations
Violence Prevention Agencies
Community Advocates
Community Birth Workers
Family Medicine
Forensic Pathology
Maternal Fetal Medicine/Perinatology
Nurse Midwifery
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Patient Safety
Patient/Family Advocate
Perinatal Nursing
Psychiatry
Public Health
Social Work
Addiction Counseling
Cardiology
Critical Care Medicine
Epidemiology
Mental Health Provider
Public Health Nursing
Quality/Risk Management
Success Stories

Washington Success Story: Amending MM Laws to Require Reporting and Autopsy

Washington state successfully amended the state maternal mortality review law (RCW 70.54.450) requiring hospitals and birthing centers to report deaths that occur at their facility within 42 days of pregnancy to the county coroner/medical examiner offices for investigation and autopsy. Additionally, the Washington state Maternal Mortality Review Panel (MMRP) successfully rolled out recommendations and guidance for investigations and autopsies of deaths that occur within one year of pregnancy.

Links to the maternal mortality law and the autopsy guidelines can be found on the Washington state MMRP website at www.doh.wa.gov/maternalmortality. 

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Washington Success Story: Implementation of Equity-Related Process Improvements (Apr 2022)

The Washington State Maternal Mortality Review Panel (MMRP) implemented equity-related process improvements to ensure its reviews identified bias, structural racism, and health and social inequities in maternal deaths.

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Washing Success Story: Mini-Grant Opportunity Funds Projects to Provide Education on Perinatal Behavioral Health Conditions, Treatment & Resources (Apr 2022)

In their 2019 report, the Washington State Maternal Mortality Review Panel made a recommendation to “increase knowledge and skill of providers, patients, and families about behavioral health conditions during and after pregnancy, and the treatment and resources that are available for support.” In response, the Washington State Department of Health released a behavioral health mini-grant opportunity to fund projects that focused on the Panel’s recommendation. Fifteen organizations applied and 5 were selected. Each project is funded for 12 months using funds from ERASE MM, the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant, and the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant.

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State Materials
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Washington One-page informational handout
2017
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Washington Records request forms
2017
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Washington Sample Panel Member Appointment Letter
2018
Sample Official Appointment by the Secretary of Health letter: All panel members are officially appointed to the panel by the Washington State Secretary of Health
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Washington Sample Panel Member Recruitment Application
2018
We recruited panel members with the help of our key stakeholders who spread the word. Panel applicants were directed to our webpage where they completed an application created using Opinio.
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Washington State MMRP Law
2017
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Washington State Maternal Mortality Review Guidebook and Manual
2017
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Washington State Maternal Mortality Review Report: Review of 2014 and 2015 Deaths
2017
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Webinar - Investigation Maternal Mortality in Washington State
Northwest Center for Public Health Practice
2018
Listen in to a presentation by the maternal mortality review coordinator to learn more about the maternal mortality review in Washington. The webinar was part of a series of public health topics hosted by the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice.
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Washington State Maternal Mortality Review Panel: Maternal Deaths 2014-2016
2019
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