How the Virtual ECHO Model is Boosting Black Maternal Health

Though maternal mortality rates in the United States have dropped slightly, Black birthing people are still twice as likely to die due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth as their white peers. This striking statistic underscores the need for significant improvements in maternal health equity. A program at the Indiana University is working to achieve the needed improvements through telehealth-based medical education and clinical peer support.Called the Black Maternal Health ECHO program, it aims to bring healthcare professionals together to explore clinical best practices and advancements that can curb Black maternal morbidity and mortality. The program is an adaptation of the Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) model, which was developed by a University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center physician.