OHA-PHD Birthing Centers Responding to 
the Congenital Syphilis Emergency in Oregon

The Oregon Health Authority’s STD Program and the Oregon Perinatal Collaborative  released new guidance on Responding to the Congenital Syphilis Emergency in Oregon.  Find out more here.

Key recommendations include:

1. Screen all pregnant people for syphilis regardless of risk and prior screening at three time points during pregnancy, including:
2. All visits for pregnant people are prenatal visits
3. Verify the pregnancy status of all pregnancy-capable people with syphilis; if pregnant, treat without delay.

Key findings include:

1. 54% of participants accurately perceived syphilis to be increasing dramatically among people who can become pregnant
2. 19% of participants reported being very comfortable with interpreting the results of syphilis serologic testing
3. 96% of participants routinely screen all pregnant patients at the first presentation to prenatal care
4. 69% of participants routinely screen all pregnancy patients in the early third trimester

56% of participants had ever diagnosed a pregnant patient with syphilis and 26% had diagnosed a pregnant patient with syphilis in the prior year

Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy

Interested in learning more about the next OPC initiative? For more information on the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health’s Patient Safety Bundle on Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy, follow this link for a list of resources.

Expansion of Medicaid Coverage of Undocumented Pregnant Individuals; Now Not Age-Restricted

As of July 1, 2023, the Healthier Oregon program expanded health care coverage to include all eligible individuals regardless of immigration or citizenship status. For pregnant people, the requirements to access Oregon Health Plan (OHP) benefits and other services and supports no longer include age restrictions, making it easier for more pregnant Oregonians to access critical health care coverage. Learn more about these changes here.

Doulas’ Role in Perinatal OUD Care

The Harm Reduction Doula Collective is a group of full spectrum doulas providing harm reduction services in Seattle. The doulas serve as companions for families and individuals who use drugs, helping fight the stigma associated with perinatal substance use. They prioritize those who are currently unhoused or living in shelters. During this Comagine Health webinar, the Collective will speak about their harm reduction training, exploring the intersections of reproductive justice, racism, gender violence and drug user rights. Learn from a person with lived experience who participated in the Substance Using Pregnant People (SUPP) program at Swedish Ballard in Washington.  

Improving Diagnosis and Treatment of Obstetric Sepsis

Join this webinar to hear about the actions hospitals and communities can take together to reduce maternal deaths and severe complications from sepsis. We will present the ACOG/AIM national safety bundle on sepsis and the revised CMQCC Improving Diagnosis and Treatment of Obstetric Sepsis Toolkit. Patient and community leaders will introduce key principles to achieve equitable and respectful care. The last 30 minutes of the webinar will serve as the kick-off of the California Sepsis Collaborative. The collaborative highlights include clinical and community mentors leading monthly small hospital groups sharing strategies to overcome barriers to implementation.