About us
We are a nonprofit coalition of stakeholders seeking to improve health of New Mexico women and children through best practices in New Mexico hospitals. Our members include New Mexico hospitals, the Department of Health, insurers, NM Hospital Association, March of Dimes, and other community organizations such as Young Women United.
We want to help improve health outcomes! New Mexico has opportunities!
- Infant mortality – 24th in the country: In 2012-2013, New Mexico had a rate of 6.1 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Preterm birth and low birth weight causes many deaths. http://assets.americashealthrankings.org/app/uploads/hwc-complete-report.pdf
- Maternal mortality – 34th in the country: Maternal mortality rates in New Mexico are high at 23/100,000 live births for 2010 – 2014. Our country has a very high rate overall compared to other countries. http://assets.americashealthrankings.org/app/uploads/hwc-complete-report.pdf
- Unintended and teen pregnancy – 40th and 50th in the country: The 2010 overall rate for New Mexico was 56 unintended pregnancies/1000 women and NM had the highest rate of teen pregnancies in 2011, 72/1000 teens age 15-19. https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/stateup10.pdf. and https://www.guttmacher.org/report/us-teen-pregnancy-state-trends-2011
- Substance use disorders in pregnancy – One of the highest in the country: Exposure of babies to opiates causes neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a drug withdrawal syndrome after baby is born. The NM rate in 2013 was 8.5 NAS cases per 1000 hospital births. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6531a2.htm
Board of Directors:
Katie Avery, RN, CNP, Maternal Health Manager, NM DOH
Eve Espey, MD MPH, Chairperson, UNM OB-GYN Department
Janis Gonzales, MD, MPH, FAAP, Bureau Chief/Medical Director, Family Health Bureau NM DOH
Jean Howe, MD, Indian Health Service
Ellen Interlandi, RN, MPH, Clinical Consultant, NM Hospital Association
Mark Kassouf, Bureau Chief of Vital Records and Health Statistics, NM DOH
Larry Leeman, MD MPH, UNM Family & Community Medicine
Amy Levi, CNM, PhD, Albers Professor of Midwifery, UNM College of Nursing
Aussy Levi, Senior Manager, Donor Recruitment, United Blood Services
Denita Richards, RN, United Healthcare
Cathy Rocke, MBA, Deputy Director, Public Health Division, NM DOH
Kent Argubright, MD, Perinatal Associates of NM
Linda Siegle, Resources for Change
Brandi Van Pelt-Ramirez, Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Executive Committee Officers
-
Eve Espey
President -
Janis Gonzales
Vice President -
Amy Levi
Secretary -
Linda Siegle
Treasurer
Work Group Chairs
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS): Larry Leeman
Improved access to long acting reversible contraception (LARC): Abby Reese
Improved management and reduction of maternal obstetrical hemorrhage: Katie Seligman
Which stakeholders are represented?
The board of directors of our Perinatal Collaborative consists of local representatives, including insurers (i.e., Medicaid), private healthcare personnel and consumers, as well as the following agencies:
