Missouri Non-Birthing Hospital Survey: Preparation and Capacity Building

Laura Warren-Hughes, MSN, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, IBCLC, is a maternal health leader with over 30 years experience supporting birthing families. She began her career as a lactation specialist and childbirth educator before serving as a labor and delivery nurse and later as the maternity services nurse manager at a critical access hospital. She now serves as director of maternal quality at the Missouri Hospital Association, where she champions statewide efforts to improve maternal outcomes through collaboration, innovation and evidence-based care across the perinatal continuum.

This webinar will explore the evolving landscape of rural maternal health care in Missouri and the critical role non-birthing hospitals play in supporting obstetric emergencies. As the number of “OB Deserts” continues to grow in the U.S., we’ll discuss what it means for patients and communities, and how closures of labor and delivery services continue to impact access to care across rural regions. The session will examine the role of non-birthing hospitals as essential access points for pregnant and postpartum patients, particularly in emergency situations.

Using findings from the Missouri Emergency Department OB Readiness Assessment, the presentation will describe the current state of obstetric readiness among Missouri’s non-birthing hospitals, including strengths, challenges and variability in preparedness. Data from the assessment identified common gaps related to policies, training, neonatal stabilization, screening practices and resource limitations. Finally, the session will highlight practical strategies for capacity building, including standardized protocols, simulation training, regional partnerships and collaborative approaches to strengthening maternal safety across all care settings.