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.