
Massachusetts Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) convened in 1998. The committee has 16 members, meets twice annually, and reviews all pregnancy associated and pregnancy related deaths. In 2014, Massachusetts had 71, 867 live births with 29 pregnancy associated deaths.
Contacts
Primary
Name
Karin Downs
Credentials
RN, MPH
Title
MCH Director
Affiliation
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Email
Phone
617-624-5967
Secondary
Name
Hafsatou Diop
Title
Director, Office of Data Translation
Affiliation
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Phone
617-624-5764
Sources of Funding
ERASE MM
No
STATE MATERNAL HEALTH INNOVATION
No
TITLE V MCH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
Yes
STATE BUDGET
No
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
State Medicaid Agency
State Title V Program
|
Anesthesiology
Forensic Pathology
Maternal Fetal Medicine/Perinatology
Nurse Midwifery
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Patient Safety
Perinatal Nursing
|
Addiction Counseling
Critical Care Medicine
Epidemiology
Quality/Risk Management
|
State Materials

Massachusetts Department of Public Health
1997
There is a long history of reviewing maternal deaths in Massachusetts which began as a systematic effort in 1941 when the Committee on Maternal Welfare of the Massachusetts Medical Society initiated case reviews of maternal deaths with the goal of improving maternal health. Since 1997, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has convened the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) to review maternal deaths, study the incidence of pregnancy complications, and make recommendations to improve maternal outcomes and eliminate preventable maternal death. The work of the MMMRC, protected under M.G.L. c. 111, section 24A and 24B, assures the confidentiality of all records and proceedings. Part B is available in the following location: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXVI/Chapter111/Section24B

Massachusetts Department of Public Health
2014
The purpose of this report is to present data on maternal deaths and pregnancy-associated mortality from 2000 through 2007 in Massachusetts. This report also suggests strategies for improving maternal health outcomes. This report covers both medical and injury-related deaths of women who died while pregnant or within one year postpartum.