AWHONN Awarded $500,000 Merck for Mothers Grant to Advance Postpartum Emergency Care Nationwide

AWHONN Awarded $500,000 Merck for Mothers Grant to Advance Postpartum Emergency Care Nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. July 14, 2026— The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from Merck for Mothers to support the development and implementation of the POST-BIRTH Triage Index (PBTI), the first standardized postpartum triage tool designed specifically for emergency departments, urgent care centers and freestanding emergency departments nationwide.

The initiative builds upon AWHONN's successful POST-BIRTH Warning Signs (PBWS) program, which reaches more than 1.7 million postpartum patients annually through hospital discharge education and statewide maternal mortality prevention efforts.

The grant addresses a critical need in maternal healthcare. More than half of pregnancy-related deaths occur between seven and 365 days postpartum, and most are considered preventable. Research conducted across 23 emergency departments in 17 states identified a significant gap in postpartum emergency care, finding that clinicians in non-obstetric settings often lack standardized tools and specialized training to recognize and prioritize postpartum emergencies.

"This investment represents a significant step forward in improving maternal safety during one of the most vulnerable periods in a woman's healthcare journey," said Jonathan Webb, MBA, MPH, CEO of AWHONN. "By developing the first validated postpartum-specific triage index for emergency and urgent care settings, we can help clinicians identify life-threatening complications more quickly, improve care coordination and ultimately save lives. We are grateful to Merck for Mothers for partnering with us to advance innovative, evidence-based solutions that improve outcomes for mothers and families."

"Merck for Mothers believes that every mother deserves access to high-quality, timely care throughout the postpartum period," said Jacquelyn Caglia, Head, Merck for Mothers. "We are honored to support AWHONN's efforts to expand this important work, building on the success of the Post-Birth Warning Signs program and helping to strengthen systems providing care for families across the United States during this critical time."

Through this grant, AWHONN will:

Develop and validate the POST-BIRTH Triage Index using the Delphi method to achieve expert consensus;
Conduct inter-rater reliability and implementation testing across emergency departments, urgent care centers and freestanding emergency departments;
Create a national interdisciplinary education and dissemination program for clinicians;
Expand POST-BIRTH Warning Signs resources through additional language translations, enhanced mobile-friendly applications and Spanish-language program materials;
Support rural healthcare access through scholarship opportunities; and
Expand Newborn Warning Signs educational resources through additional translations.

Implementation activities will begin in 2026 and include the establishment of a multidisciplinary expert panel, three consecutive research studies, protocol, and expansion of maternal and newborn education resources.

About AWHONN

The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization. Our mission is to empower and support nurses caring for women, newborns, and their families through research, education, and advocacy. Through its programs, publications and professional resources, AWHONN supports healthcare professionals and advances the health of women, newborns and families nationwide.

About Merck for Mothers

This program is supported by funding from Merck, through Merck for Mothers, the company's global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life. Merck for Mothers is known as MSD for Mothers outside the United States and Canada.

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For more information, please contact Shannon Doolin at 202-261-2410 or sdoolin@awhonn.org.