The MNPQC Rural Improving Maternal & Perinatal Access, Care, and Teamwork (IMPACT) Sprint brings together multidisciplinary individuals from rural and critical access hospitals to strengthen obstetric emergency readiness through evidence-based practices, shared learning, and quality improvement. Guided by the AIM’s Obstetric Emergency Readiness Resource Kit, participants will gain practical tools and strategies to improve recognition, response, communication, and transfer processes while building sustainable systems that support safe, respectful, and high-quality maternity care close to home.

Session 2: Recognition & Early Warning Systems
Date: October 15, 2026, at 12 PM CT
Recognition of obstetrical emergencies is a key component of quality care. This session will discuss maternal early warning criteria (MEWS/MEWT), recommended escalation pathways, and provide strategies to implement documentation and communication triggers. Through this discussion, participants will be provided with actionable strategies to improve emergency recognition and response, especially within Emergency Department settings.

Session 3: Team Roles, Communication & Drills
Date: November 12, 2026, at 12 PM CT
This session will explore strategies to strengthen team coordination through clearly defined roles, structured communication tools such as prebriefs, huddles, and debriefs, as well as low-dose, high-frequency simulation practices that build confidence and readiness. Participants will identify opportunities to improve role clarity within their own teams and engage in interactive activities designed to practice coordinated emergency response in a supportive learning environment.

Session 4: Hemorrhage Readiness: Supplies & Systems
Date: December 17, 2026, at 12 PM CT
This session will focus on strategies for standardizing hemorrhage readiness through organized hemorrhage carts, timely access to first- and second-line medications and blood products, and the use of checklists and visual aids to support clinical decision-making during emergencies. Participants will review practical examples from established quality improvement initiatives, discuss approaches to optimizing supply organization within their own settings, and collaborate on tools that promote consistent, reliable emergency preparedness.

Session 5: Response & Transfer Coordination
Date: January 14, 2027, at 12 PM CT
This session will highlight evidence-informed strategies for the initial stabilization of obstetric hemorrhage, hypertensive emergencies, and sepsis, while emphasizing structured communication and standardized transfer workflows. Participants will examine best practices for collaborating with emergency medical services (EMS) and referral centers, and work together to develop practical tools—such as transfer checklists and transfer packets—that promote safe, efficient transitions of care for pregnant and postpartum patients.

Session 6: Sustainability, Data, & Culture
Date: February 11, 2027, at 12 PM CT
This session will have participants examine approaches to measuring readiness through process and outcome measures, fostering a culture of learning through structured debriefing, and integrating evidence-based practices into routine care. Through shared learning and reflection, teams will discuss lessons learned from their quality improvement work and identify strategies to sustain meaningful improvements in their organizations.