October 2026 |
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Inside this edition:
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Help Us Support AABC at the 2026 Perinatal Improvement Summit!
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MNPQC’s Obstetric Hemorrhage Community of Learning Final Report
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Understanding Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV): Join the October 8th Perinatal Education ECHO session!
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IMPACT Sprint: Register for Session 2 on October 15th
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MNPQC’s Newest Program: Perinatal Risk & Readiness Community of Learning (October 2026 - April 2027)
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Countdown to MNPQC’s Perinatal Improvement Summit Continues!
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Add to Your Calendar: Community Events
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Check on your Heart Health with SagePlus from the Minnesota Department of Health
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Connect with Community
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Help Us Support AABC at the 2026 Perinatal Improvement Summit! |
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MNPQC is excited to recognize Wilder’s African American Babies Coalition and Projects (AABC) as our 2026 Outstanding Community Organization Award recipient!
As part of this year’s Perinatal Improvement Summit on October 27, we’re partnering with AABC to host a Baby & Postpartum Recovery Supplies Drive during the event. Summit attendees are encouraged to bring items for AABC’s Family Maternal Resource Room. Requested items include:
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Diapers, all sizes
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Diaper cream and wipes
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Baby wash, lotion, and shampoo
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Changing pads
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Receiving blankets
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Onesies, newborn to 12–18 months
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Adult diapers and menstrual pads
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Nipple cream
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Breast pumps, including hand pumps and storage bags
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How to Donate: Bring your donations to the Summit at the Minneapolis Marriott West. Donations will be collected from 7 AM to 3:30 PM, before the closing plenary begins.
Join us at the Summit and help us celebrate AABC’s work while giving back to the families they serve!
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| Learn More |
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NEW: MNPQC’s Obstetric Hemorrhage Community of Learning Final Report |
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The Final Report for the Obstetric Hemorrhage Community of Learning is finally here! This report highlights why this work matters, the 23 birthing facilities that participated from September 2025 to April 2026, and the changes teams made to strengthen their obstetric hemorrhage response.
Thank you to all 23 participating teams for your commitment to this work!
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HP/PN Westfields Hospital
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Lakewood Health System
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MHealth Fairview Riverside UMN (UMMC)
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MHealth Fairview St. John's
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MHealth Fairview Woodwinds
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Northfield Hospital & Clinics
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Olmsted Medical Center
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Riverwood Healthcare Center
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Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls
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Sanford Worthington
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Twin Cities Midwifery
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Understanding Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV): Join the October 8th Perinatal Education ECHO session! |
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We’re looking ahead to our next Perinatal Education ECHO session on October 8, 2026, from 12 – 1 pm CDT. This session will focus on congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV), featuring Dr. Stephen Contag, a professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that most people are exposed to during their lifetime, often without knowing it. However, when CMV is passed from a pregnant person to their baby during pregnancy, it is called congenital CMV or cCMV. While many babies with cCMV have no symptoms at birth, some can develop serious health concerns, including hearing loss and developmental problems.
Dr. Contag will discuss why cCMV remains an important but often overlooked concern, what providers should know about testing, and how to have simple, practical conversations with pregnant patients about prevention. Join us for this learning session to learn more and raise awareness!
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| Register Today |
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Rural IMPACT Sprint: Register for Session 2 on October 15th |
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Last month, we kicked off MNPQC’s Rural IMPACT Sprint, a virtual webinar series focused on helping rural and critical access hospitals strengthen obstetric emergency readiness through evidence-based quality improvement strategies.
Join us for Session 2: Recognition & Early Warning Systems on October 15, 2026, from 12 - 1 pm CDT. Our guest speaker, Alex Harsha Bangura, MD, a full-spectrum family physician from Lakewood Health System, will cover:
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The role of maternal early warning criteria and standardized escalation pathways
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Management of obstetrical emergencies
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Strengthening workflows
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Evidence-based strategies for rural and Critical Access Hospitals
This series is designed for clinicians, nurses, quality improvement professionals, and hospital administrators working in rural healthcare settings and Critical Access Hospitals, although anyone interested is welcome to participate.
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| Join Us for Session 2 |
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MNPQC’s Newest Program: Perinatal Risk & Readiness Community of Learning (October 2026 - April 2027) |
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Register today for MNPQC’s Perinatal Risk & Readiness Community of Learning (PRR COL) to strengthen standardized approaches to risk assessments, screening, response, referral, and follow-up for mental health, substance use, intimate partner violence, and commercial nicotine use.
Who Should Join? Any Minnesota birthing facility interested in strengthening screening, referral, and follow-up related to these areas. Participating facilities will form a multidisciplinary team, typically with at least 3 individuals, to lead Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles within their facility.
When is it taking place? October 2026 to April 2027. Key dates include:
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September/October: Virtual Orientation with MNPQC staff
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October 26, 2026, 4-7 pm: Building Connections & Foundations for Perinatal Risk & Readiness (in-person - Minneapolis, MN)
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November 19, 2026, 12-1 pm: Virtual
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December 10, 2026, 12-1 pm: Virtual
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January 7, 2027, 12-1 pm: Virtual
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February 4, 2027, 12-1 pm: Virtual
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April 8, 2027, 12-1 pm: Virtual
What is expected of participating teams? Teams will submit monthly data on the defined family of measures and implement changes within their own practice setting. You aren’t in this alone; MNPQC will provide TA for quality improvement and data submission.
Interested in joining? Email MNPQC at QI@minnesotaperinatal.org to register.
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| Learn More |
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The Countdown to MNPQC’s Perinatal Improvement Summit Continues! |
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We are just 20 days away from MNPQC’s 2026 Perinatal Improvement Summit on October 27, 2026, at the Minneapolis Marriott West. This annual event brings together more than 200 healthcare professionals and advocates in perinatal health for a day filled with learning, collaboration, and connection!
With an exciting lineup of plenaries and presentations, there is something for everyone! From sessions focused on maternal mental health and substance use during pregnancy to community birth transfers, hypertension, support for health professionals, and so much more! Take a look at the event schedule for all the details as you consider joining us again this year!
We hope to see you there!
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| Register Today! |
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Check on your Heart Health with SagePlus from the Minnesota Department of Health |
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SagePlus is a free program from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) that helps individuals improve their heart health through health screenings, including a blood pressure check, along with personalized coaching to help eligible participants make healthy lifestyle changes. This program may be especially helpful for pregnant individuals or those planning to become pregnant as a proactive way to check their heart health. During pregnancy, the cardiovascular system works harder to support both mom and baby, making heart health an important part of perinatal healthcare.
Eligible participants are connected with partner clinics to get started in the program. Eligibility criteria is available on the MDH SagePlus Screening page. To learn more about SagePlus, call 1-888-643-2584, complete the Appointment Scheduling form, or email health.sage@state.mn.us to connect directly with staff.
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| SagePlus by MDH |
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Connect with Community |
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On October 1, 2026, Violence Free Minnesota (VFMN) released its 2025 Homicide Report, “Harm Beyond the Home, Relationship Abuse in Minnesota,” honoring the 31 lives lost to homicide last year. Of those, 25 women were killed due to intimate partner violence (IPV)—a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating impact of relationship abuse. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and, this year, move beyond awareness toward action.
At MNPQC, we encourage readers to review the VFMN report and take action in your own community by attending a Domestic Violence Awareness (DVA) event. Visit VFMN’s guide to find an event near you. We stand with those affected by domestic and intimate partner violence and remain committed to being part of the work to create change and build safer communities for all. |
| Read the Report |
| Find an Event |
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