Published on September 8, 2026
Read Time: 2 Minutes
Three Things to Know
- Phelps Health earned MO PQC Stars recognition for its work to improve care for pregnant and postpartum patients.
- The recognition focuses on two areas: obstetric hemorrhage and severe hypertension in pregnancy.
- The goal is safer care for mothers and babies through teamwork, preparation and evidence-based practices.
Phelps Health has been recognized by the Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MO PQC), in partnership with the Missouri Hospital Association (MHA), for its leadership in advancing evidence-based practices that improve outcomes for pregnant and postpartum patients with the MO PQC Stars designation for Obstetric Hemorrhage and Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy.
MO PQC Stars is a recognition program designed to celebrate Missouri hospitals that are actively engaged in maternal quality improvement work through the Missouri PQC. The designation recognizes hospitals that are not only participating in PQC initiatives, but also demonstrating commitment to data-driven improvement, team engagement and sustained implementation of evidence-based practices.
“Participating in Missouri PQC initiatives has shifted our focus from responding to emergencies to preparing for them,” said Stephanie Welch, MSN, RN, director of maternal infant services at Phelps Health. “We place a greater focus on readiness, standardization, teamwork, simulation and early recognition of clinical changes. The PQC projects have shown us that quality improvement is about more than meeting goals. It is about building reliable systems that help our teams provide safe, evidence-based care every time. This approach has influenced many areas of our maternal and infant services. It encourages us to regularly review our processes and look for ways to improve.”
Seven Missouri birthing hospitals have achieved MO PQC Stars status during the program's inaugural year, reflecting a growing statewide focus on improving the health and well-being of mothers and babies.
“Improving maternal health outcomes takes commitment, collaboration and a willingness to continuously examine how we care for patients and families,” said Alison Williams, MHA division vice president of clinical quality affairs and MO PQC lead.
“The hospitals recognized through the MO PQC Stars program are demonstrating that commitment every day by implementing evidence-based practices, engaging multidisciplinary teams and using data to drive meaningful change. Their leadership reflects a shared dedication across Missouri to ensuring every pregnant and postpartum patient receives the safest, highest-quality care possible.”
MO PQC Stars recognizes hospitals that are transforming quality improvement efforts into sustained practice change. By celebrating progress and sharing successes, the program strengthens accountability and fosters a statewide culture of continuous improvement in maternal care.
“Our commitment to quality improvement is ultimately about providing safer, better care for our patients,” said Keri Brookshire-Heavin, MHA, BSN, RN, senior vice president, chief nursing officer and chief operating officer at Phelps Health. “By strengthening our processes and preparing our teams, we can better recognize and respond to complications and provide the highest level of care for mothers and babies across our region.”
About Missouri PQC
The Missouri PQC is a statewide network of clinicians, hospitals, public health professionals and community partners working together to improve outcomes for mothers and infants through data-driven quality improvement. The MO PQC, in partnership with the Missouri Hospital Association, is supported through grants and contracts in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.