Penn Medicine reduces severe pregnancy complications for Black patients

Following the killing of George Floyd, Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine made Black maternal health its highest priority, and its CEO took the bold step of tying executive compensation to the goal of reducing birth-related complications among Black patients. In the year that followed, the health system reduced severe pregnancy-related complications among Black women by 29.4% by updating and standardizing care with race-neutral protocols and meeting regularly to share effective strategies. The maternal health equity initiative was recently expanded to include all women of color. Penn Medicine’s experience is chronicled in the March issue of Health Affairs. The article details the steps taken and metrics used to achieve and track progress.