Oklahoma Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative

10/26/2026

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, accounting for one in three deaths.

To help your health care professionals identify cardiovascular risk and act earlier, ACOG collaborated with the American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine on a new framework outlining how physicians can support heart health from childhood through adulthood.

The new framework gives ob-gyns and other clinicians the tools they need to understand the connection between heart health, hormones, and mental well-being so they can better tailor screening, prevention, and treatment considerations for heart disease.

Questions about your heart health? Talk with your ob-gyn at any stage and any age.

Read the framework: https://bit.ly/4yB3UTb

10/23/2026

The use of GLP-1s is rising, but data on how these medications affect pregnancy or breastfeeding are still limited.

ACOG’s new guidance recommends that ob-gyns talk with patients about the limited safety data available, and that patients consider stopping GLP-1 medications one to two months before becoming pregnant. Ob-gyns should also share with patients that it’s unclear how GLP-1 medications may affect breastfeeding and discuss the potential benefits and risks.

Talk with your ob-gyn if you have questions about GLP-1 medications and pregnancy.

Read the full press release: https://bit.ly/4dURb6s

10/22/2026

🏆💙 CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN MATERNAL & NEWBORN CARE! 🩷🏆

We are incredibly proud to announce that Weatherford Regional Hospital’s Women’s Center has received the 2026 OPQIC Silver Spotlight Hospital Award! 🥈

Presented by the Oklahoma Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (OPQIC), this recognition celebrates our team's commitment to improving maternal and newborn safety, advancing evidence-based practices, and providing exceptional care to Oklahoma families.

As Oklahoma’s only Critical Access Hospital still delivering babies, this achievement is especially meaningful. Our team is proud to help keep safe, high-quality maternity care close to home for the families in our community and across western Oklahoma! 👶💕

👏 Congratulations to our incredible Women’s Center team! Your compassion, dedication, and commitment to excellence make a difference in the lives of the families we serve every day.

💙 Small Community. Exceptional Care. BIG Impact!

📸 Pictured (left to right): Chad Smith, MD, FACOG, Medical Director of OPQIC; Amy Vasko, APRN, CNM; Adaleigh Downey, OB Tech; Jenni Adams, RN; Kayla Glasscock, RN, Manager of Women’s Services; Vicki Smith, OB Tech; Barbara O’Brien, MS, RN, Director of OPQIC; and Rich Rasmussen, President of the Oklahoma Hospital Association.

10/20/2026

OHA’s We Care, We Vote initiative is underwriting Oklahoma Votes: Conversations with the Candidates, produced by Griffin Media. The program features in-depth interviews with gubernatorial candidates Mike Mazzei and Cyndi Munson, who discuss issues affecting Oklahomans and their communities.

The interviews will air tomorrow Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m. on KWTV - NEWS 9 and KOTV - News On 6. The full program will also be available on demand at News9.com and NewsOn6.com. Click the link below to learn more about OHA’s We Care, We Vote initiative.

https://wecarewevoteok.org/

10/20/2026

An excellent opportunity to explore a comprehensive, evidence-based overview of perinatal substance use and the interventions available for moms and families.

Register here: https://hubs.la/Q04ByJ8m0

National Association of Perinatal Social Workers

10/20/2026

10/17/2026

Substance use complicates upward of 10% of US pregnancies. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine have jointly recommended universal screening for substance use during pregnancy using a validated tool, without recommending universal biological testing.

This Special Statement introduces a comprehensive strategy, grounded in principles of quality improvement, to address racial and ethnic disparities in substance use screening, with an emphasis on equitable and respectful care.

Read the statement here: https://bit.ly/4zxBUAT

10/16/2026

🏆 Celebrating Excellence in Perinatal Care: Congratulations to Our 2026 Spotlight Hospitals!

At the 12th Annual OPQIC Summit on October 2, we proudly recognized 28 Oklahoma birthing hospitals for their commitment to improving the quality and safety of care for mothers and newborns!

OPQIC's Spotlight Hospital Recognition Program celebrates hospitals that are building a culture of excellence in perinatal care. Hospitals are evaluated on their participation in and achievements through statewide quality improvement initiatives, including efforts to strengthen maternal safety, improve birth outcomes, promote infant safe sleep, and advance evidence-based practices.

These awards recognize more than individual accomplishments. They reflect the dedication of hospital leadership, physicians, nurses, and frontline teams working together to provide safer, higher-quality care for Oklahoma families.

Congratulations to all our 2026 Spotlight Hospital recipients! Your dedication to continuous improvement, teamwork, and patient safety is helping create a healthier future for Oklahoma mothers and babies.

We are grateful for your leadership and proud to celebrate your accomplishments!

🔗 Learn more about the Spotlight Hospital Recognition Program and view this year's recipients: https://opqic.org/spotlight-hospitals/

10/15/2026

🏆 Congratulations to Annette Troxell, MS, RNC, recipient of the 2026 Warren M. Crosby Champion for Maternal and Infant Health Award!

At the 12th Annual OPQIC Summit on October 2, we had the honor of recognizing Annette Troxell for her extraordinary contributions to maternal and infant health in Oklahoma.

Throughout her distinguished nursing career, Annette has been a dedicated advocate for mothers, babies, and the healthcare professionals who care for them. Her leadership, mentorship, and involvement with the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) have helped advance evidence-based practices, strengthen perinatal nursing, and improve the quality of care across our state.

As Annette enters retirement, we celebrate her remarkable legacy and the countless lives she has touched through her passion for maternal and infant health.

Please join us in congratulating Annette on this well-deserved honor and thanking her for her years of dedication to Oklahoma's mothers and babies! 💜

10/14/2026

Thank you for making the 12th Annual OPQIC Summit a success!

We are still feeling inspired by the incredible presenters, meaningful conversations, and shared commitment to improving maternal and infant health at this year's OPQIC Summit on October 2!

We were truly blown away by the expertise and passion of our speakers and the remarkable progress Oklahoma has made in advancing maternal safety and reducing maternal deaths. While we have much to celebrate, we recognize there is still important work ahead.

A special thank you to our keynote speaker, Michael Warren, MD, MPH, FAAP, Chief Medical and Health Officer for March of Dimes. A nationally recognized pediatrician and public health leader, Dr. Warren delivered a thought-provoking presentation that challenged us to reflect on the progress we've made, the challenges that remain, and how we can continue working together to improve outcomes for mothers and babies.

Most importantly, thank you to the healthcare professionals, hospital leaders, community partners, and advocates who joined us. Your dedication, collaboration, and commitment to quality improvement are what make meaningful progress possible.

Oklahoma has much to be proud of, but our work is far from finished. Together, we can continue building a safer, healthier future for every mother and baby.

📸 Want to revisit a session or explore what you missed? Find Summit presentation slides and additional resources at opqic.org/summit2026/