EmpowerHer: A Toolkit for Maternal Health Equity (1 Class A CE)

Severe maternal morbidity and mortality continue to rise in the United States. Racial and ethnic disparities have been found in maternal care related to an increased incidence of severe maternal morbidity and mortality, mode of birth, and the provision of anesthesia and analgesia. Non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Alaskan Native/American Indian parturients experience these disparities at an excessive rate lending to worsened peripartum outcomes and experiences. CRNAs who provide maternal care can play a significant role in ensuring obstetric patients receive optimal analgesia and anesthesia care throughout the peripartum period. Achieving this goal means CRNA are equipped to address the racial and social inequities that affect pregnant women in the United States. A Maternal Health Equity Toolkit for Anesthesia Providers outlines uniform interventions and provides resources to help combat the maternal health crisis and associated racial, ethnic, and social disparities.