DETROIT, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Detroit Medical Center (DMC) has emerged as the first hospital in Michigan to pursue Maternal Levels of Care (MLoC) verification, a step aimed at reducing maternal mortality rates. This move, announced by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) on July 29, is a part of DMC’s mission to advance maternal and infant health “by encouraging the growth and evolution of systems that help standardize perinatal regionalization and risk-appropriate maternal care.”
Brittany Lavis, CEO of DMC, expressed pride in the hospital’s leadership role. “Being the first health system in Michigan to seek Maternal Levels of Care Verification is a testament to our commitment to improving maternal and infant health in our city,” Lavis said, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. “The DMC is home to Michigan’s first and only hospital for women, and we’ve been the destination for women’s care for more than 150 years.”
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The MLoC verification, conducted by The Joint Commission, a healthcare accreditation nonprofit, involves a comprehensive evaluation “to ensure facilities have the right resources, right staff, right equipment, and right processes in place for a patient’s specific needs and risk level.” These standards include the ability to transfer pregnant and postpartum patients to more appropriate care levels when necessary.
“Advancing maternal health outcomes in Michigan requires strong and strategic partnerships with Michigan hospitals and health systems,” MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said. “As the fourth state to launch the Maternal Levels of Care verification program, Michigan continues to lead the way nationally for our commitment to improving maternal health.”
The urgency of this initiative is highlighted by data revealing that nearly three-quarters of pregnancy-related deaths between 2016 and 2020 were preventable in Michigan (The Detroit News). By adopting the MLoC verification, DMC aims to address these disparities directly.
In April, MDHHS declared that it would issue payments to birthing hospitals that participate fully in the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health and seek MLoC verification. A total of $9 million from the state’s general fund has been allocated to this program, with payments set to be released in September. These funds will cover costs associated with the verification process and provide additional support to hospitals striving to improve maternal care.
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