PQC4ME Capacity-Building is a five-year project funded by the U.S. Centers for Prevention and Control in September 2022 with three main goals:

1. Engaging 100% of Maine’s 24 birthing hospitals in a series of quality improvement bundles developed by ACOG/AIM
2. Increasing outreach and collaboration with a diverse group of partners, including community-based organizations, primary care, and public health
3. Expanding PQC4ME’s organizational capacity and sustainability by developing a website, calendar of events, staff and consultant resources

PQC4ME’s new community partners include In Her Presence, Maine Primary Care Association and Greater Portland Health, one of Maine’s 20 Community Health Centers, and Public Health Nursing, part of the Maine Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. These organizations conducted focus groups and interviews with patients and clients to obtain feedback on hypertension patient education materials used by birthing hospitals. Language, cultural sensitivity, and literacy were assessed with results used to improve educational materials as well as how education is integrated into prenatal and postpartum care.

PQC4ME’s organizational capacity increased significantly as the result of US CDC funding, and included adding project management staff with training in public health, quality improvement and business administration as well as clinical expertise in labor and delivery nursing and midwifery. Part time consultants in obstetrics and gynecology, neonatology, pediatrics, perinatal nursing, evaluation and public health round out the Center for Quality Improvement’s Maternal and Child Health team.