Mercy Health is proud to announce its membership in Mama Certified, a national pilot and certification program aimed at advancing maternal health equity. Launching in winter 2024, this first-of-its-kind certification brings together all birthing hospitals in Hamilton County to advance maternal health equity for black families.
Developed in partnership with Cradle Cincinnati, The Health Collaborative, Queens Village, and local black mothers, Mama Certified is designed to provide black parents-to-be with a meaningful way to access and compare the maternal-related efforts of Hamilton County's hospital networks. Under Mama Certified, hospital systems will be assessed for their efforts across four categories: infant care, maternal care, staff care, and community care. Progress and results will be made publicly available to the community.
This certification was developed in response to significant racial disparities in maternal mortality and infant mortality. In Ohio, black moms are 2.5 times more likely to die during childbirth and nearly three times more likely to experience infant loss compared to any other race, regardless of education and socioeconomic factors.
Additionally, black women locally reported feeling unseen, unheard, and ignored in medical settings. As a Mama Certified member, Mercy Health Cincinnati commits to increasing transparency and accountability by publicly sharing clinical measures related to maternal and infant health outcomes. The organization is taking the time to learn about the realities of equity in healthcare through staff-wide training and regularly meeting with representatives from Queens Village, a supportive group of powerful black women, to develop new innovations that support equitable maternal and infant care. Mercy Health Cincinnati is also establishing or continuing policies and practices that are proven to improve maternal and infant health.
"We are proud to partner with our colleagues and communities to ensure everyone in greater Cincinnati has the best birthing experience possible, regardless of race," said Gina Hemenway, Executive Director of Community Health at Mercy Health Cincinnati. "We know having a baby is both special and scary, and there are a lot of decisions to make along the way. Mama Certified is a unique collaboration that brings transparency and insight into the important work hospitals are doing to address maternal health equity.
Together, we can change the outcome for black families." Mercy Health Cincinnati is committed to advancing maternal health equity and is honored to be part of this groundbreaking initiative. By joining Mama Certified, Mercy Health Cincinnati aims to improve
outcomes for black families and ensure that every parent-to-be receives the respect and care they deserve.