Maternal Health in New Mexico: The Story of the IPH ECHO Program  

Maternal health in New Mexico is being transformed by the Improving Perinatal Health (IPH) ECHO program, a collaborative initiative supported by Project ECHO at The University of New Mexico and funded in part by Con Alma Health Foundation. This program trains healthcare providers across the state, including those in remote rural areas, to address critical gaps in perinatal care for underserved populations. By offering culturally responsive training, fostering collaborative learning, and providing accessible resources, the IPH ECHO program empowers providers to deliver high-quality care. The ultimate goal? To reduce maternal mortality and improve health outcomes for mothers and infants across New Mexico.

 

Maternal health in New Mexico is a significant challenge, with substantial barriers to accessing best-practice, culturally responsivecare and large swaths of maternity care deserts and areas of decreased access. With a Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Ratio (PAMR) of 76.85 deaths per 100,000 live births—much higher than the national average—underserved and rural communities face unique vulnerabilities. However, Project ECHO’s  Improving Perinatal Health (IPH) ECHO program, which is funded in part by Con Alma Health Foundation, is transforming maternal care delivery across the state.

Through education, collaboration, and cultural responsiveness, the IPH ECHO program has made meaningful strides in addressing systemic inequities and empowering healthcare providers to improve maternal health outcomes.

 

The IPH ECHO Program: A Comprehensive Approach

The IPH ECHO program, supported by the pioneering ECHO Model, is a virtual, case-based, mentorship program that connects perinatal care specialists with healthcare providers in rural and underserved areas. The program offers biweekly training sessions and resources designed to equip providers with evidence-based practices for maternal and perinatal health.

In the first year alone, the program served 18 of New Mexico’s 33 counties, including 12 rural and hard-to-reach areas such as Guadalupe and Colfax. For these underserved communities, this outreach ensures that they have access to best practices that they may otherwise not have had.

To date, the program has trained 274 providers, including midwives, nurses, physicians, doulas, public health professionals, and community health workers. These efforts aim to build a network of skilled professionals capable of addressing maternal health challenges with cultural and clinical competence.

“The IPH ECHO program leverages Project ECHO’s vast network of experts to bring life-saving knowledge and practices to health care providers in the communities that need them most. By empowering local clinicians with the tools and confidence to deliver high-quality maternal care, this program has made a tangible difference in reducing disparities and improving outcomes for mothers and families across New Mexico.” said Dr. Sanjeev Arora, founder and director of Project ECHO.

 

Addressing Barriers in Underserved Communities

Reaching New Mexico’s rural populations is no small feat. Geographical isolation, systemic inequities, and language barriers often limit access to quality care. The IPH ECHO program has met these challenges with strategies, such as:

• Cultural competency trainings: Sessions on systemic racism and implicit bias in maternal care help providers address disparities and build trust with historically marginalized communities.
• Spanish-language presentations: The program’s Spanish-language sessions with interpretation services ensure inclusivity for southern New Mexico’s Spanish-speaking populations.
• Community engagement: By including local leaders and culturally aligned experts, including a Dine` co-director with unique expertise as a midwife and experience in hospital and community birth, the program fosters trust and ensures interventions align with community values.

These strategies have been instrumental in addressing the needs of communities that have long been underserved by traditional healthcare systems.

 

Collaboration as a Cornerstone

Collaboration is central to the IPH ECHO program’s success. Through partnerships with other ECHO programs, such as the Reproductive Health ECHO Program and the Maternal Child Health Community Health Workers Program, participants gain access to complementary resources and expertise.

The program also introduced “grand rounds,” which are specialized sessions focused on improving the collaboration between providers who provide birth services within and outside of hospital settings. These sessions include topics such as “Decolonized Midwifery Care” and “Postpartum Hemorrhage Management”.

“Bringing together diverse providers has been incredibly impactful,” one participant noted. “It’s not just about sharing knowledge—it’s about creating a collaborative network that strengthens maternal care across the state.”

Real Impact on Providers and Patients

The IPH ECHO program’s training sessions have had a tangible impact on healthcare providers, equipping them with the knowledge to address both medical and social determinants of maternal health. Post-session surveys revealed that 63% of participants reported improved knowledge, 20% enhanced skills, and 12% better performance in implementing evidence-based practices.

One midwife described how the program gave her the confidence to improve her care in a rural setting: “Even though we’re kind of out in a really rural place, we were… doing the right things. The program reassured me that our practices align with evidence-based standards.”

Another participant, a doula, highlighted the value of a session on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). “The knowledge I gained has helped me better communicate care practices to my clients and recognize symptoms early,” she said.

The Road Ahead

Building on its successes, the IPH ECHO program is committed to increasing their work in statewide quality improvement, expanding its geographic and multidisciplinary reach, diversifying its pool of experts, and ensuring long-term sustainability in addressing maternal health in New Mexico. Plans include recruiting more culturally aligned presenters and fostering deeper partnerships with community organizations.

Dr. Trevor Quiner, Maternal-Fetal Medicine physician and co-director of the IPH ECHO shares a hopeful outlook. “There is still much work to be done to ensure that all pregnant individuals and families in New Mexico and the surrounding region have access to safe, respectful, and high-quality care. While these challenges are not unique to our state, the multi-disciplinary collaboration and strong sense of community that is apparent in the participants of IPH ECHO is what sets us apart. The collaboration and determination to care for our community will allow us to overcome these challenges together.”

The IPH ECHO program exemplifies how targeted education, collaboration, and cultural responsiveness can address systemic healthcare inequities. Backed by the Con Alma Health Foundation, the program is not only empowering providers but also transforming maternal health for New Mexico’s most vulnerable populations.

As one participant aptly summarized, “The IPH ECHO program gave me the tools to make a real difference in my community. That’s something I’ll carry with me forever.” For families across New Mexico, this program is more than a training initiative—it’s a lifeline to a healthier future.

To support the IPH ECHO program, Con Alma awarded a three-year grant in 2023. The Foundation partners with ECHO to advance our shared values of using innovative strategies to increase access to quality healthcare in rural and underserved areas of New Mexico and develop a culturally responsive workforce.