Saint Mary’s Hospital Recognized for Advancing Maternal Health Equity

Saint Mary's Women and Infants Center held a ribbon cutting for its OB Emergency Department in April.

Trinity Health Of New England launched the Orange Bracelet Program in May 2025.

The Joint Commission, an independent organization that accredits and certifies health care organizations and programs in the United States, selected Saint Mary’s based on its innovative approach and measurable progress in advancing maternal health.

In response to maternal health disparities across Connecticut, Saint Mary’s implemented a strategic, data-driven initiative to better understand and address the needs of its patient population. By leveraging demographic, social needs and clinical data, the hospital established a multidisciplinary health equity workgroup that developed a targeted action plan focused on maternal hypertension among Black and Latino birthing patients.

To address maternal hypertensive disorders, Saint Mary’s implemented a comprehensive approach that includes:

• Standardized education to help patients recognize warning signs of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and after delivery.
• Electronic health record-based social needs screening with referrals to community resources.
• Distribution of home blood pressure cuffs and education on self-monitoring and when to seek medical attention.
• The Orange Bracelet Program, which enables providers to quickly identify patients who have recently given birth and may be at increased risk for complications.
• Mandatory staff education on maternal hypertensive disorders.
• An Obstetric Emergency Department (OBED) pathway that provides pregnant and postpartum patients access to specialized emergency care by board-certified OB/GYN providers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• Enhanced language access services to ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate care.

“Improving maternal health begins with understanding the unique needs of our patients and responding with evidence-based, equitable care,” said Irina Magidina, MD, Chief, OB/GYN, Saint Mary’s Hospital. “By using data to identify disparities and partnering with our community, we’re creating lasting improvements that help mothers receive the right care at the right time.”

As a result of this work, Saint Mary’s achieved 98% race, ethnicity and language (REAL) data collection, exceeding Trinity Health’s internal target of 95%. While the long-term clinical outcomes continue to be monitored, the initiative has strengthened communication between staff and patients, resulting in more effective conversations about blood pressure monitoring and follow-up care. Patients have also demonstrated greater engagement with home blood pressure monitoring, supporting earlier identification of hypertension and helping reduce the risks associated with maternal hypertensive disorders.

“This work is about more than meeting standards; it’s about ensuring every mother has the opportunity for a safe pregnancy, delivery and postpartum recovery,” said Nara Santana, MSN, RN-BC, Clinical Manager, Saint Mary’s Women and Infants Center. “We’re committed to continuously learning from our data, listening to our community and building a healthier future for the families we serve.”

As part of The Joint Commission’s Knowledge Library, Saint Mary’s will share insights, tools and strategies that health care leaders and staff can use to strengthen workforce practices and improve patient safety and well-being. The Knowledge Library offers trusted resources and curated content, including resource centers, blogs, news, newsletters and webinars focused on quality, safety and accreditation.

Saint Mary’s Hospital will continue expanding its health equity efforts through ongoing monitoring, community partnerships and initiatives designed to address disparities across both inpatient and outpatient care settings, reinforcing its commitment to providing compassionate, equitable care for every patient and community it serves.