Virtual Maternity Care Solutions

The U.S. maternal mortality rate far exceeds that of other developed countries, with 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with an average of 5.1 deaths per 100,000 in peer nations. Access to maternity care also remains uneven across the country. More than 2.3 million women live in maternity care deserts and one in three U.S. counties lacks obstetric clinicians, making it difficult for many patients to access timely prenatal and postpartum care.

Pregnancy and childbirth are major cost drivers within the healthcare system. Recent data show that preterm births in the U.S. account for an estimated $25 billion annually, while pregnancy-related complications result in more than $32 billion in spending.

Virtual solutions for maternity care aim to support mothers, babies, and clinicians during and after pregnancy by expanding access to services, providing education and monitoring between visits, and helping coordinate multidisciplinary care, particularly in areas experiencing provider shortages.

PHTI is assessing virtual solutions for maternity care to determine their clinical effectiveness and budget impact.