St. Louis, Missouri — SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis has been recognized by the Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MO PQC), in partnership with the Missouri Hospital Association, with the inaugural MO PQC Stars designation for its leadership in advancing evidence-based care through the Maternal-Infant Dyad Affected by Substance Use Disorder collaborative.
The MO PQC Stars program recognizes Missouri hospitals that demonstrate sustained implementation of evidence-based practices to improve outcomes for pregnant and postpartum patients. Hospitals earning the designation have shown a commitment to data-driven quality improvement, multidisciplinary collaboration, and lasting practice change. During the program’s inaugural year, only seven Missouri birthing hospitals received the recognition.
“This recognition is a powerful reflection of our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional, compassionate care, and creating the best possible outcomes for the patients and families we are privileged to serve,” said Katie Althoff-Moore, Regional Director of Women’s Services at SSM Health’s Family Birthplaces.
At SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - St. Louis, caregivers have intentionally fostered an inclusive, family-centered approach that empowers mothers to be active partners in their babies’ care while ensuring every patient receives respectful, personalized support.
“We have cultivated a culture of inclusive, family-centered care that empowers mothers to be active partners in every aspect of their baby’s health journey,” Althoff-Moore said. “Through compassion, collaboration, and respect, we have created an environment where every mother feels heard, valued, and supported. Our women’s services teams are deeply committed to advancing respectful care practices, ensuring that each patient and family receives dignified, personalized care that fosters trust, connection, and the best possible outcomes.”
The hospital’s participation in the collaborative has strengthened the consistency and quality of care provided to mothers and infants while connecting families with education, support services, and community resources that extend beyond their hospital stay.
“Our commitment to quality initiatives goes far beyond meeting standards—it is about transforming the care experience for every mother, baby, and family we serve,” Althoff-Moore said. “By embracing evidence-based practices, our women’s services teams continually elevate the quality and consistency of care, helping create healthier beginnings and brighter futures. Together, this work plays a meaningful role in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality across our region while strengthening outcomes for generations to come.”
The achievement reflects collaboration across inpatient and ambulatory care teams, nursing, physicians, social work, and community partners, all working together to provide seamless, coordinated care for mothers and babies affected by substance use disorder.
“We have intentionally built a model of care that brings together the expertise of multiple disciplines to support mothers and babies at every stage of their journey,” Althoff-Moore said. “This collaborative approach ensures families receive compassionate support, meaningful follow-up, and the resources they need to thrive long after they leave our doors.”
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - St. Louis plans to continue building on this momentum by advancing innovative, evidence-based maternal and infant care in partnership with organizations across Missouri.
“For many years, we have been proud partners in maternal and neonatal quality improvement initiatives, and this recognition inspires us to reach even higher,” Althoff-Moore said. “By leveraging the expertise of our dedicated teams, strengthening partnerships across the state, and embracing emerging best practices, we will continue advancing evidence-based care that supports healthier beginnings, stronger families, and brighter futures for the communities we serve.”
The Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative 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. In partnership with the Missouri Hospital Association, the collaborative is supported through grants and contracts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
About SSM Health
Nationally recognized for quality and innovation, SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit, fully integrated health system working to advance health equity and empower all people to achieve their full potential.
With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, SSM Health provides convenient access to high-quality community-based services as well as world-class academic medicine, clinical trials and research studies. The organization’s footprint includes hospitals, physician offices, outpatient and virtual care services, senior care, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a fully transparent pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company and an accountable care organization. As one of the largest employers in every community it serves, the organization’s more than 40,000 team members and more than 15,000 providers are dedicated to fulfilling SSM Health’s Mission: “Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God.” For more information, visit ssmhealth.com or find us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
