The American College of

Obstetricians and Gynecologists

WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE PHYSICIANS

OBSTETRIC CARE
CONSENSUS
Number 2 • February 2015
Levels of Maternal Care
This document was developed Abstract: In the 1970s, studies demonstrated that timely access to risk-appropriate neo-
jointly by the American College of natal and obstetric care could reduce perinatal mortality. Since the publication of the Toward
Obstetricians and Gynecologists Improving the Outcome of Pregnancy report, more than three decades ago, the conceptual
and the Society for Maternal- framework of regionalization of care of the woman and the newborn has been gradually sepa-
Fetal Medicine with the assis- rated with recent focus almost entirely on the newborn. In this current document, maternal care
refers to all aspects of antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum care of the pregnant woman.
tance of M. Kathryn Menard,
The proposed classification system for levels of maternal care pertains to birth centers, basic
MD, MPH; Sarah Kilpatrick, care (level I), specialty care (level II), subspecialty care (level III), and regional perinatal health
MD, PhD; George Saade, MD; care centers (level IV). The goal of regionalized maternal care is for pregnant women at high risk
Lisa M. Hollier, MD, MPH; to receive care in facilities that are prepared to provide the required level of specialized care,
Gerald F. Joseph Jr, MD; thereby reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States.
Wanda Barfield, MD; William
Callaghan, MD; John Jennings,
MD; and Jeanne Conry, MD,
PhD. The information reflects
emerging clinical and scientific
advances as of the date issued, Objectives
is subject to change, and should
not be construed as dictating an • To introduce uniform designations for levels of maternal care that are comple-
exclusive course of treatment or mentary but distinct from levels of neonatal care and that address maternal
procedure. Variations in practice health needs, thereby reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in the United
may be warranted based on the States
needs of the individual patient, • To develop standardized definitions and nomenclature for facilities that provide
resources, and limitations unique each level of maternal care
to the institution or type of prac-
tice. • To provide consistent guidelines according to level of maternal care for use in
This document has been endorsed
quality improvement and health promotion
by the following organizations: • To foster the development and equitable geographic distribution of full-service
American Association of Birth maternal care facilities and systems that promote proactive integration of risk-
Centers appropriate antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum services
American College of Nurse-
Midwives Background
Association of Women’s Health,
Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses In the 1970s, studies demonstrated that timely access to risk-appropriate neonatal
Commission for the and obstetric care could reduce perinatal mortality. In 1976, the March of Dimes
Accreditation of Birth Centers and its partners first articulated the concept of an integrated system for regionalized
The American Academy perinatal care in a report titled Toward Improving the Outcome of Pregnancy (1). This
of Pediatrics leadership, report included criteria that stratified maternal and neonatal care into three levels of
the American Society of
Anesthesiologists leadership,
complexity, and recommended referral of high-risk patients to higher-level centers
and the Society for Obstetric with the appropriate resources and personnel needed to address their increased com-
Anesthesia and Perinatology plexity of care.
leadership have reviewed the After the publication of the March of Dimes report, most states developed
opinion and are supportive of coordinated regional systems for perinatal care. The designated regional or tertiary
the Levels of Maternal Care.
care centers provided the highest levels of obstetric and neonatal care, while serving
smaller facilities’ needs through education and transport beds in obstetrics), more can be done to improve the
services. Numerous studies have validated the concept system of care for high-risk women at facility and popula-
that improved neonatal outcomes were achieved through tion levels.
application of risk-appropriate maternal transport sys- Although there is strong evidence of more favorable
tems (2, 3). A comprehensive meta-analysis has shown neonatal outcomes with regionalized perinatal care, evi-
increased odds of neonatal mortality for very low birth dence of a beneficial effect on maternal outcome is limited.
weight (very LBW, also commonly known as VLBW) Maternal mortality is an uncommon event, and methods
infants (less than 1,500 g) born outside of a level III hos- for tracking severe morbidity only have been proposed
pital (38% versus 23%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.62; 95% recently (13). Data indicate that obstetric complications
confidence interval, 1.44–1.83) (4). Data indicate higher are significantly more frequent in hospitals with low
neonatal mortality for very LBW infants born in hospitals delivery volume (16), and that obstetric providers with the
that are staffed by neonatologists in the absence of a more lowest patient volume have significantly increased rates of
complete multidisciplinary team (level II), compared with obstetric complications compared with high-volume pro-
those born in level III centers (5). viders (17). Hospital clinical volume likely is a proxy mea-
Since the March of Dimes report was published, sure for institutional and individual experience that may
the conceptual framework of regionalization of care of not be available at hospitals with lower volumes (18). Also,
the woman and the newborn has changed to focus almost data indicate that outcomes are better if certain conditions,
entirely on the newborn (6, 7). The American College such as placenta previa or placenta accreta, are managed in
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (the College) and a high-volume hospital (19, 20). It also has been noted that
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) outline the maternal mortality is inversely related to the population
capabilities of health care providers in hospitals delivering density of maternal–fetal medicine subspecialists at the
basic, specialty, subspecialty, and regional obstetric care state level (21), although other factors, such as the presence
in Guidelines for Perinatal Care, Seventh Edition (6). With of obstetrician–gynecologists, nurses, and anesthesiologists
39% of hospital births in the United States occurring at who have experience in high-risk maternity care, also may
hospitals that deliver less than 500 newborns each year contribute to this trend. Although these findings provide
and an additional 20% occurring at hospitals that deliver support for an association between availability of resources
between 501 newborns and 1,000 newborns each year and favorable maternal outcomes, they do not prove a
(8), it likely is that the majority of maternal care in the direct cause and effect relationship between levels of care
United States is provided at basic-care and specialty-care and outcomes.
hospitals. However, a recent commentary noted the need A number of states have incorporated maternal care
to readdress “perinatal levels of care” to focus specifically criteria into perinatal guidelines. Indiana, Arizona, and
on maternal health conditions that warrant designation Maryland emphasize the need for stratification of facili-
as high risk, and to define specific clinical and systems ties based on levels of maternal care that are distinct
criteria to manage such conditions (9). This document is from neonatal needs, but use inconsistent definitions and
a call for an integrated, regionalized framework to identify nomenclature: the Indiana Perinatal Networks guideline is
when transfer of care may be necessary to provide risk- modeled after the March of Dimes report and uses levels I,
appropriate maternal care. II, and III (22); the Arizona system defines levels I, II, IIE,
Although maternal mortality in high resource coun- and III of maternal care (23); and the Maryland Perinatal
tries improved substantially during the 20th century, System uses levels I, II, III, and IV (24). Despite their dif-
maternal mortality rates in the United States have wors- ferences, an essential component of each of these guide-
ened in the past 14 years (10). Currently, the United States lines is the concept of an integrated system in which, just as
is ranked 60th in the world for maternal mortality (11). with neonatal care, level III and level IV maternal centers
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention serve level I and level II centers by providing educational
study, the leading causes of maternal mortality are associ- resources, consultation services, and streamlined systems
ated with chronic conditions that affect women of repro- for maternal and neonatal transport when necessary.
ductive age, and common obstetric complications such This document has four objectives: 1) introduce
as hemorrhage (12). Moreover, maternal mortality in uniform designations for levels of maternal care that are
the United States represents a small component of the complementary but distinct from levels of neonatal care
larger emerging problem of maternal severe morbidities and that address maternal health needs, thereby prevent-
and near-miss mortality that increased by 75% between ing further increases in maternal morbidity and mortality
1998–99 and 2008–09 (13). National increases in obesity, in the United States; 2) develop standardized definitions
hypertensive disorders, and diabetes among women of and nomenclature for facilities that provide each level of
reproductive age increase the risk of maternal morbidity maternal care, including birth centers; 3) provide consis-
and mortality, as does the increasing cesarean delivery rate tent guidelines of service according to level of maternal
(14, 15). Although specific modifications in the clinical care for use in quality improvement and health promotion;
management of these conditions have been instituted (eg, and 4) foster the development and equitable geographic
the use of thromboembolism prophylaxis and bariatric distribution of full-service maternal care facilities and

2 Obstetric Care Consensus No. 2

systems that promote proactive integration of risk- Table 2). This system is in concert with the College and
appropriate antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum AAP Guidelines for Perinatal Care, Seventh Edition (6).
services. This document focuses on maternal care and Although data on which to base these distinctions in
does not include an in-depth discussion about high-risk resources and capacity for maternal care are limited,
neonatal care capability based on gestational age or birth the definitions were created from the characteristics of
weight. Nevertheless, optimal perinatal care requires syn- successful regionalized perinatal systems in a number
ergy in institutional capabilities for the woman and the of states (see Background). In this context, regionalized
fetus or neonate. perinatal systems represent a combination of maternal
and neonatal services. Establishing clear, uniform criteria
Definitions of Levels of Maternal Care for designation of maternal centers that are integrated
In this document, maternal care refers to all aspects of with emergency response systems will help ensure that
antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum care of the the appropriate personnel, physical space, equipment,
pregnant woman. In order to standardize a complete and technology are available to achieve optimal out-
and integrated system of perinatal regionalization and comes, as well as to facilitate subsequent data collection
risk-appropriate maternal care, a classification system regarding risk-appropriate care. Trauma is not integrated
should be established for levels of maternal care that into the levels of maternal care because trauma levels are
pertain to birth centers (as defined in the Birth Centers already established. Pregnant women should receive the
section of this document), basic care (level I), specialty same level of trauma care as nonpregnant patients. This
care (level II), subspecialty care (level III), and regional document addresses the care provided at birth centers
perinatal health care centers (level IV) (see Table 1 and and hospitals, but home birth is not included.

Table 1. Levels of Maternal Care: Definitions, Capabilities, and Types of Health Care Providers * ^

Birth Center
Definition Peripartum care of low-risk women with uncomplicated singleton term pregnancies with a vertex
presentation who are expected to have an uncomplicated birth
Capabilities • Capability and equipment to provide low-risk maternal care and a readiness at all times to initiate
emergency procedures to meet unexpected needs of the woman and newborn within the center, and
to facilitate transport to an acute care setting when necessary.
• An established agreement with a receiving hospital with policies and procedures for timely transport.
• Data collection, storage, and retrieval.
• Ability to initiate quality improvement programs that include efforts to maximize patient safety.
• Medical consultation available at all times.
Types of health care providers Every birth attended by at least two professionals:
• Primary maternal care providers. This includes CNMs, CMs, CPMs, and licensed midwives who are
legally recognized to practice within the jurisdiction of the birth center; family physicians; and
ob-gyns.
• Availability of adequate numbers of qualified professionals with competence in level I care criteria
and ability to stabilize and transfer high-risk women and newborns.
Examples of appropriate patients • Term, singleton, vertex presentation
(not requirements)
Level I (Basic Care)
Definition Care of uncomplicated pregnancies with the ability to detect, stabilize, and initiate management of
unanticipated maternal–fetal or neonatal problems that occur during the antepartum, intrapartum, or
postpartum period until patient can be transferred to a facility at which specialty maternal care is
available
Capabilities Birth center capabilities plus
• ability to begin emergency cesarean delivery within a time interval that best incorporates maternal
and fetal risks and benefits with the provision of emergency care.
• available support services, including access to obstetric ultrasonography, laboratory testing, and
blood bank supplies at all times.
(continued)

Obstetric Care Consensus No. 2 3

 Table 1. Levels of Maternal Care: Definitions, Capabilities, and Types of Health Care Providers * (continued)

Level I (Basic Care) (continued)

Capabilities (continued)
• protocols and capabilities for massive transfusion, emergency release of blood products, and
management of multiple component therapy.
• ability to establish formal transfer plans in partnership with a higher-level receiving facility.
• ability to initiate education and quality improvement programs to maximize patient safety, and/or
collaborate with higher-level facilities to do so.
Types of health care providers Birthing center providers plus
• continuous availability of adequate number of RNs with competence in level I care criteria and
ability to stabilize and transfer high-risk women and newborns.
• nursing leadership has expertise in perinatal nursing care.
• obstetric provider with privileges to perform emergency cesarean available to attend all deliveries.
• anesthesia services available to provide labor analgesia and surgical anesthesia.
Examples of appropriate patients Any patient appropriate for a birth center, plus capable of managing higher-risk conditions such as
(not requirements) • term twin gestation
• trial of labor after cesarean delivery
• uncomplicated cesarean delivery
• preeclampsia without severe features at term
Level II (Specialty Care)

Definition Level I facility plus care of appropriate high-risk antepartum, intrapartum, or postpartum conditions,
both directly admitted and transferred from another facility
Capabilities Level I facility capabilities plus
• computed tomography scan and ideally magnetic resonance imaging with interpretation available.
• basic ultrasonographic imaging services for maternal and fetal assessment.
• special equipment needed to accommodate the care and services needed for obese women.
Types of health care providers Level I facility health care providers plus
• continuous availability of adequate numbers of RNs with competence in level II care criteria and
ability to stabilize and transfer high-risk women and newborns who exceed level II care criteria.
• nursing leadership and staff have formal training and experience in the provision of perinatal
nursing care and should coordinate with respective neonatal care services.
• ob-gyn available at all times.
• director of obstetric service is a board-certified ob-gyn with special interest and experience in
obstetric care.
• MFM available for consultation onsite, by phone, or by telemedicine, as needed.
• anesthesia services available at all times to provide labor analgesia and surgical anesthesia.
• board-certified anesthesiologist with special training or experience in obstetric anesthesia available
for consultation.
• medical and surgical consultants available to stabilize obstetric patients who have been admitted
to the facility or transferred from other facilities.
Examples of appropriate patients Any patient appropriate for level I care, plus higher-risk conditions such as
(not requirements) • severe preeclampsia
• placenta previa with no prior uterine surgery
(continued)

4 Obstetric Care Consensus No. 2

 Table 1. Levels of Maternal Care: Definitions, Capabilities, and Types of Health Care Providers * (continued)

Level III (Subspecialty Care)

Definition Level II facility plus care of more complex maternal medical conditions, obstetric complications, and
fetal conditions
Capabilities Level II facility capabilities plus
• advanced imaging services available at all times.
• ability to assist level I and level II centers with quality improvement and safety programs.
• provide perinatal system leadership if acting as a regional center in areas where level IV facilities
are not available (see level IV).
• medical and surgical ICUs accept pregnant women and have critical care providers onsite to actively
collaborate with MFMs at all times.
• appropriate equipment and personnel available onsite to ventilate and monitor women in labor and
delivery until they can be safely transferred to the ICU.
Types of health care providers Level II health care providers plus
• continuous availability of adequate numbers of nursing leaders and RNs with competence in
level III care criteria and ability to transfer and stabilize high-risk women and newborns who
exceed level III care criteria, and with special training and experience in the management of
women with complex maternal illnesses and obstetric complications.
• ob-gyn available onsite at all times.
• MFM with inpatient privileges available at all times, either onsite, by phone, or by telemedicine.
• director of MFM service is a board-certified MFM.
• director of obstetric service is a board-certified ob-gyn with special interest and experience in
obstetric care.
• anesthesia services available at all times onsite.
• board-certified anesthesiologist with special training or experience in obstetric anesthesia in
charge of obstetric anesthesia services.
• full complement of subspecialists available for inpatient consultations.
Examples of appropriate patients Any patient appropriate for level II care, plus higher-risk conditions such as
(not requirements) • suspected placenta accreta or placenta previa with prior uterine surgery
• suspected placenta percreta
• adult respiratory syndrome
• expectant management of early severe preeclampsia at less than 34 weeks of gestation
Level IV (Regional Perinatal Health Care Centers)

Definition Level III facility plus on-site medical and surgical care of the most complex maternal conditions and
critically ill pregnant women and fetuses throughout antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum care
Capabilities Level III facility capabilities plus
• on-site ICU care for obstetric patients.
• on-site medical and surgical care of complex maternal conditions with the availability of critical
care unit or ICU beds.
• Perinatal system leadership, including facilitation of maternal referral and transport, outreach
education for facilities and health care providers in the region, and analysis and evaluation of
regional data, including perinatal complications and outcomes and quality improvement.
(continued)

Obstetric Care Consensus No. 2 5

 Table 1. Levels of Maternal Care: Definitions, Capabilities, and Types of Health Care Providers * (continued)

Level IV (Regional Perinatal Health Care Centers) (continued)

Types of health care providers Level III health care providers plus
• MFM care team with expertise to assume responsibility for pregnant women and women in the
postpartum period who are in critical condition or have complex medical conditions. This includes
comanagement of ICU-admitted obstetric patients. An MFM team member with full privileges is
available at all times for on-site consultation and management. The team is led by a board-certified
MFM with expertise in critical care obstetrics.
• physician and nursing leaders with expertise in maternal critical care.
• continuous availability of adequate numbers of RNs who have experience in the care of women
with complex medical illnesses and obstetric complications; this includes competence in level IV
care criteria.
• director of obstetric service is a board-certified MFM, or board-certified ob-gyn with expertise in
critical care obstetrics.
• anesthesia services are available at all times onsite.
• board-certified anesthesiologist with special training or experience in obstetric anesthesia in charge
of obstetric anesthesia services.
• adult medical and surgical specialty and subspecialty consultants available onsite at all times to
collaborate with MFM care team.
Examples of appropriate patients Any patient appropriate for level III care, plus higher-risk conditions such as
(not requirements) • severe maternal cardiac conditions
• severe pulmonary hypertension or liver failure
• pregnant women requiring neurosurgery or cardiac surgery
• pregnant women in unstable condition and in need of an organ transplant
Abbreviations: CMs, certified midwives; CNMs, certified nurse–midwives; CPMs, certified professional midwives; ICU, intensive care unit; MFM, maternal–fetal medicine
subspecialists; ob-gyns, obstetrician–gynecologists; RNs, registered nurses;.
*These guidelines are limited to the maternal needs. Consideration of perinatal needs and the appropriate level of care should occur following existing guidelines. In fact,
levels of maternal care and levels of neonatal care may not match within facilities. Additionally, these are guidelines, and local issues will affect systems of implementation
for regionalized maternal care, perinatal care, or both. Data from Levels of Neonatal Care. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Pediatrics
2012;130:587–97.

Table 2. Levels of Maternal Care by Services ^

Level of Maternal Care

Required
Service Birth Centers Level I Level II Level III Level IV

Nursing Adequate numbers of Continuously available Continuously available Continuously available Continuously available
qualified professionals RNs with competence RNs with competence nursing leaders and RNs with competence
with competence in in level I care criteria in level II care criteria RNs with competence in level IV care criteria
level I care criteria Nursing leadership has Nursing leadership in level III care criteria Nursing leadership has
expertise in perinatal has formal training and have special expertise in maternal
nursing care and experience in training and experience intensive and critical
perinatal nursing care in the management of care
and coordinates with women with complex
respective neonatal maternal illnesses and
care services obstetric complications
(continued)

6 Obstetric Care Consensus No. 2

 Table 2. Levels of Maternal Care by Services (continued)

Level of Maternal Care

Required
Service Birth Centers Level I Level II Level III Level IV

Minimum CNMs, CMs, Obstetric provider with Ob-gyns Ob-gyns Ob-gyns

primary CPMs, and licensed privileges to perform or or or
delivery midwives emergency cesarean MFMs MFMs MFMs
provider to delivery
be available
Obstetrics Available for emergency Ob-gyn available at all Ob-gyn onsite at all Ob-gyn onsite at all
surgeon cesarean delivery times times times
MFMs Available for Available at all times Available at all times
consultation onsite, onsite, by phone, or by for on-site consultation
by phone, or by telemedicine with and management
telemedicine, as inpatient privileges
needed
Director of Board-certified ob-gyn Board-certified ob-gyn Board-certified MFM
obstetric with experience and with experience and or board-certified
services interest in obstetrics interest in obstetrics ob-gyn with
expertise in critical
care obstetrics
Anesthesia Anesthesia services Anesthesia services Anesthesia services Anesthesia services
available available at all times available at all times available at all times
Board-certified Board-certified Board-certified
anesthesiologist anesthesiologist anesthesiologist
with special training with special training with special training
or experience in or experience in or experience in
obstetrics, available obstetrics is in charge obstetrics is in charge
for consultation of obstetric anesthesia of obstetric anesthesia
services services
Consultants Established agreement Established agreement Medical and surgical Full complement of Adult medical and
with a receiving hospital with a higher-level consultants available subspecialists available surgical specialty and
for timely transport, receiving hospital for to stabilize for inpatient subspecialty
including determination of timely transport, consultation, including consultants available
conditions necessitating including determination critical care, general onsite at all times,
consultation and referral of conditions necessita- surgery, infectious including those
ting consultation and disease, hematology, indicated in level III
referral cardiology, nephrology, and advanced neuro-
neurology, and surgery, transplant,
neonatology or cardiac surgery
ICU Appropriate equipment Collaborates actively
and personnel with the MFM care
available onsite to team in the
ventilate and monitor management of all
women in labor and pregnant women and
delivery until safely women in the post-
transferred to ICU partum period who are
Accepts pregnant in critical condition or
women have complex medical
conditions
Comanages ICU-
admitted obstetric
patients with MFM
team
Abbreviations: CMs, certified midwives; CNMs, certified nurse–midwives; CPMs, certified professional midwives; ICU, intensive care unit; MFMs, maternal–fetal medicine
specialists; ob-gyns, obstetrician–gynecologists; RNs, registered nurses.

Obstetric Care Consensus No. 2 7

 Once levels of maternal care are established, analysis nancy and birth. Birth centers provide family-centered
of data collected from all facilities and regional systems care for healthy women before, during and after normal
will inform future updates to the levels of maternal care. pregnancy, labor and birth.” This common definition is
Consistent with the levels of neonatal care published used in this document and includes birth centers regard-
by the AAP (7), each level reflects required minimal less of their location. Birth centers provide peripartum
capabilities, physical facilities, and medical and support care to low-risk women with uncomplicated singleton
personnel. Note that each higher level of care includes term pregnancies with a vertex presentation who are
and builds on the capabilities of the lower levels. As with expected to have an uncomplicated birth. Cesarean deliv-
the AAP-defined levels of neonatal care, the system will ery or operative vaginal delivery are not offered at birth
be modified as analysis is completed. centers.
The goal of regionalized maternal care is for preg- In a freestanding birth center, every birth should
nant women at high risk to receive care in facilities that be attended by at least two professionals. The primary
are prepared to provide the required level of specialized maternity care provider that attends each birth is edu-
care. Each facility should have a clear understanding of cated and licensed to provide birthing services. Primary
its capability to handle increasingly complex levels maternity care providers include certified nurse–
of maternal care, and should have a well-defined thresh- midwives (CNMs), certified midwives, certified profes-
old for transferring women to health care facilities that sional midwives, and licensed midwives who are legally
offer a higher level of care. These proposed categories of recognized to practice within the jurisdiction of the birth
maternal care are meant to facilitate this process. These center; family physicians; and obstetrician–gynecolo-
guidelines also are intended to foster the development gists. In addition, there should be adequate numbers of
of equitably distributed resources throughout the coun- qualified professionals available who have completed
try. These are guidelines, not mandates, and geographic orientation and demonstrated competence in the care of
and local issues will affect systems of implementation obstetric patients (women and fetuses) consistent with
for regionalized perinatal care. In fact, levels of mater- level I care criteria and are able to stabilize and transfer
nal and neonatal care may not match within facilities. high-risk women and newborns. Medical consultation
However, a pregnant woman should be cared for at the should be available at all times. These facilities should be
facility that best meets her needs as well as her neonate’s ready to initiate emergency procedures (including cardio-
needs. Because all facilities cannot maintain the breadth pulmonary and newborn resuscitation and stabilization)
of resources available at subspecialty centers, interfacility at all times (7), to meet unexpected needs of the woman
transport of pregnant women or women in the postpar- and newborn within the center, and to facilitate trans-
tum period is an essential component of a regionalized port to an acute care setting when necessary. To ensure
perinatal health care system. To ensure optimal care of all optimal care of all women, a birth center should have a
pregnant women, all birth centers, hospitals, and higher- clear understanding of its capability to provide maternal
level facilities should collaborate to develop and maintain and neonatal care and the threshold at which it should
maternal and neonatal transport plans and cooperative transfer women to a facility with a higher level of care. A
agreements capable of managing the health care needs of birth center should have an established agreement with
women who develop complications; receiving hospitals a receiving hospital and have policies and procedures in
should openly accept transfers. The appropriate care level place for timely transport. These transfer plans should
for patients should be driven by their medical need for include risk identification; determination of conditions
that care and not limited by financial constraint. Because necessitating consultation; referral and transfer; and a
of the importance of accurate data for the assessment of reliable, accurate, and comprehensive communication
outcomes, all facilities should have requirements for data system between participating facilities and transport
collection, storage, and retrieval. teams. All facilities should have quality improvement
An important goal of regionalized maternal care is programs that include efforts to maximize patient safety.
for higher-level facilities to provide training for quality Birth center facility licenses currently are availa-
improvement initiatives, educational support, and severe ble in more than 80% of states in the United States and
morbidity and mortality case review for lower-level hos- state requirements for accreditation for birth centers
pitals. In those regions that do not have a facility that vary. Three national agencies (Accreditation Association
qualifies as a level IV center, any level III facilities in the for Ambulatory Health Care [www.aaahc.org], The Joint
region should provide the educational and consultation Commission [www.jointcommission.org], and The Com-
function (see Table 3). mission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers [www.
birthcenteraccreditation.org]) provide accreditation of
Birth Centers birth centers. The Commission for the Accreditation
In 1995, the American Association of Birth Centers of Birth Centers is the only accrediting agency that
(www.birthcenters.org) defined birth centers as “a home- chooses to use the national American Association of
like facility existing within a healthcare system with a Birth Centers Standards for Birth Centers in its accred-
program of care designed in the wellness model of preg- itation process.

8 Obstetric Care Consensus No. 2

 Table 3. Summary and Recommendations for Levels of Maternal Care ^

Summary and Recommendations Grade of Recommendations

In order to standardize a complete and integrated system of perinatal 1C

regionalization and risk-appropriate maternal care, a classification system should Strong recommendation, low quality evidence
be established for levels of maternal care that pertain to birth centers (as defined
in the Birth Centers section of this document), basic care (level I),
specialty care (level II), subspecialty care (level III), and regional perinatal health
care centers (level IV).
Introduce uniform designations for levels of maternal care that are complementary 1C
but distinct from levels of neonatal care. Strong recommendation, low quality evidence
Establishing clear, uniform criteria for designation of maternal centers that are 1C
integrated with emergency response systems will help ensure that the appropriate Strong recommendation, low quality evidence
personnel, physical space, equipment, and technology are available to achieve
optimal outcomes, as well as to facilitate subsequent data collection regarding
risk-appropriate care.
Each facility should have a clear understanding of its capability to handle increasingly 1C
complex levels of maternal care, and should have a well-defined threshold for transferring Strong recommendation, low quality evidence
women to health care facilities that offer a higher level of care. To ensure optimal care
of all pregnant women, all birth centers, hospitals, and higher-level facilities should
collaborate to develop and maintain maternal and neonatal transport plans and
cooperative agreements capable of managing the health care needs of women who
develop complications; receiving hospitals should openly accept transfers.
Higher-level facilities should provide training for quality improvement initiatives, 1C
educational support, and severe morbidity and mortality case review for lower-level Strong recommendation, low quality evidence
hospitals. In those regions that do not have a facility that qualifies as a level IV center,
any level III facilities in the region should provide the educational and consultation function.
Facilities and regional systems should develop methods to track severe maternal morbidity 1C
and mortality to assess the efficacy of utilizing maternal levels of care. Strong recommendation, low quality evidence
Analysis of data collected from all facilities and regional systems will inform future 1C
updates to the levels of maternal care. Strong recommendation, low quality evidence
Follow-up interdisciplinary work groups are needed to further explore the implementation 1C
needs to adopt the proposed classification system for levels of maternal care in all Strong recommendation, low quality evidence
facilities that provide maternal care.

Level I Facilities (Basic Care) bility to begin an emergency cesarean delivery within a
Level I facilities (basic care) provide care to women who time interval that best incorporates maternal and fetal
are low risk and are expected to have an uncomplicated risks and benefits with the provision of emergency care
birth (Table 1). Level I facilities have the capability to (6, 25). Support services include access to obstetric ultra-
perform routine intrapartum and postpartum care that sonography, laboratory testing, and blood bank supplies
is anticipated to be uncomplicated (6). As in birth cen- at all times. All hospitals with obstetric services should
ters, maternity care providers, midwives, family physi- have protocols and capabilities in place for massive
cians, or obstetrician–gynecologists should be available transfusion, emergency release of blood products (before
to attend all births. Adequate numbers of registered full compatibility testing is complete), and for manage-
nurses (RNs) are available who have completed orienta- ment of multiple component therapy. These facilities and
tion, demonstrated competence in the care of obstetric health care providers can appropriately detect, stabilize,
patients (women and fetuses) consistent with level I care and initiate management of unanticipated maternal, fetal,
criteria, and are able to stabilize and transfer high-risk or neonatal problems that occur during the antepartum,
women and newborns. Nursing leadership should have intrapartum, or postpartum period until the patient can
expertise in perinatal nursing care. An obstetric provider be transferred to a facility at which specialty maternal care
with privileges to perform an emergency cesarean deliv- is available. To ensure optimal care of all pregnant women,
ery should be available to attend deliveries. Anesthesia formal transfer plans should be established in partnership
services should be available to provide labor analgesia with a higher-level receiving facility. These plans should
and surgical anesthesia. Level I facilities have the capa- include risk identification; determination of conditions

Obstetric Care Consensus No. 2 9

necessitating consultation; referral and transfer; and a reli- medicine to assist in providing care for more complex
able, accurate, and comprehensive communication system maternal and fetal conditions. Level III facilities will
between participating hospitals and transport teams (6). function as the regional perinatal health care centers for
All facilities should have education and quality improve- some areas of the United States if there are no level IV
ment programs to maximize patient safety, provide such facilities available. In these areas, the level III facilities will
programs through collaboration with facilities with higher be responsible for the leadership, facilitation of transport
levels of care that receive transfers, or both. Examples of and referral, educational outreach, and data collection
women who need at least level I care include women with and analysis outlined in the Regionalization section dis-
term twin gestation; women attempting trial of labor after cussed later in this document.
cesarean delivery; women expecting an uncomplicated Designation of level III should be based on the
cesarean delivery; and women with preeclampsia without demonstrated experience and capability of the facility to
severe features at term. provide comprehensive management of severe maternal
and fetal complications. An obstetrician–gynecologist is
Level II Facilities (Specialty Care)
available onsite at all times and a maternal–fetal medi-
Level II facilities (specialty care) provide care to appro- cine subspecialist is available at all times, either onsite,
priate high-risk pregnant women, both admitted and by phone, or by telemedicine, and should have inpatient
transferred to the facility. In addition to the capabilities of privileges. The director of the maternal–fetal medi-
a level I (basic care) facility, level II facilities should have cine service should be a board-certified maternal–fetal
the infrastructure for continuous availability of adequate medicine subspecialist. A board-certified obstetrician–
numbers of RNs who have demonstrated competence gynecologist with special interest and experience in
in the care of obstetric patients (women and fetuses). obstetric care should direct obstetric services. Anesthesia
Orientation and demonstrated competence should be services should be available at all times onsite. A board-
consistent with level II care criteria and include stabili- certified anesthesiologist with special training or expe-
zation and transfer of high-risk women and newborns rience in obstetric anesthesia should be in charge of
who exceed level II care criteria. The nursing leaders and obstetric anesthesia services. A full complement of sub-
staff at a level II facility should have formal training specialists, including subspecialists in critical care, gen-
and experience in the provision of perinatal nursing eral surgery, infectious disease, hematology, cardiology,
care and should coordinate with respective neonatal care nephrology, neurology, and neonatology should be avail-
services. Although midwives and family physicians may able for inpatient consultations. An on-site intensive care
practice in level II facilities, an attending obstetrician– unit (ICU) should accept pregnant women and have
gynecologist should be available at all times. A board- critical care providers onsite to actively collaborate with
certified obstetrician–gynecologist with special interest maternal–fetal specialists at all times. Equipment and per-
and experience in obstetric care should be the director sonnel with expertise must be available onsite to ventilate
of obstetric services. Access to a maternal–fetal medicine and monitor women in the labor and delivery unit until
subspecialist for consultation should be available onsite, by they can be safely transferred to the ICU.
phone, or by telemedicine as needed. Anesthesia services Level III facilities have nursing leaders and adequate
should be available at all times to provide labor analgesia numbers of RNs who have completed orientation and
and surgical anesthesia. A board-certified anesthesiologist demonstrated competence in the care of obstetric patients
with special training or experience in obstetric anesthesia (women and fetuses) consistent with level III care criteria,
should be available for consultation. Support services including transfer of high-risk women and newborns
include level I capabilities plus computed tomography who exceed level III care criteria, and who have special
scan and, ideally, magnetic resonance imaging with inter- training and experience in the management of women
pretation available; basic ultrasonographic imaging ser- with complex maternal illnesses and obstetric complica-
vices for maternal and fetal assessment; and special tions. These nursing personnel continuously are avail-
equipment needed to accommodate the care and services able. Level III facilities should be able to provide imaging
needed for obese women (6). Medical and surgical con- services including basic interventional radiology, mater-
sultants should be available to stabilize obstetric patients nal echocardiography, computed tomography, magnetic
who have been admitted to the facility or transferred resonance imaging, and nuclear medicine imaging with
from other facilities. Examples of women who need at interpretation should be available at all times. Level III
least level II care include women with severe preeclamp- facilities should have the ability to perform detailed
sia and women with placenta previa with no prior uterine obstetric ultrasonography and fetal assessment, includ-
surgery. ing Doppler studies. These facilities also should provide
evaluation of new technologies and therapies. Examples
Level III Facilities (Subspecialty Care) of women who need at least level III care include those
Level III facilities (subspecialty care) provide all level I women with extreme risk of massive hemorrhage at
(basic care) and level II (specialty care) services, and delivery, such as those with suspected placenta accreta or
have subspecialists available onsite, by phone, or by tele- placenta previa with prior uterine surgery; women with

10 Obstetric Care Consensus No. 2

suspected placenta percreta; women with adult respira- should include the capability for on-site medical and
tory distress syndrome; and women with rapidly evolving surgical care of complex maternal conditions (eg, congen-
disease, such as planned expectant management of severe ital maternal cardiac lesions, vascular injuries, neurosur-
preeclampsia at less than 34 weeks of gestation. gical emergencies, and transplants) with the availability
Level IV Facilities (Regional Perinatal Health Care of critical (or intensive) care unit beds. There should be
adult medical and surgical specialty and subspecialty con-
Centers)
sultants (a minimum of those listed in level III) available
Level IV facilities (regional perinatal health care centers) onsite at all times to collaborate with the maternal–fetal
include the capabilities of level I, level II, and level III medicine care team. The designation of level IV also may
facilities with additional capabilities and considerable pertain only to a particular specialty in that advanced
experience in the care of the most complex and critically neurosurgery, transplant, and cardiovascular capabili-
ill pregnant women throughout antepartum, intrapar- ties may not all be available in the same regional facility.
tum, and postpartum care. Although level III and level IV Examples of women who would need level IV care (at
may seem to overlap, a level IV facility is distinct from a least at the time of delivery) include pregnant women
level III facility in the approach to the care of pregnant with severe maternal cardiac conditions, severe pulmo-
women and women in the postpartum period with com- nary hypertension, or liver failure; pregnant women in
plex and critical illnesses. In addition to having ICU care need of neurosurgery or cardiac surgery; or pregnant
onsite for obstetric patients, a level IV facility must have women in unstable condition and in need of an organ
evidence of a maternal–fetal medicine care team that transplant.
has the expertise to assume responsibility for pregnant
women and women in the postpartum period who are Regionalization
in critical condition or have complex medical conditions. Regional centers, which include any level III facility that
The maternal–fetal medicine team collaborates actively in functions in this capacity and all level IV facilities, should
the comanagement of all obstetric patients who require coordinate regional perinatal health care services; provide
critical care and ICU services. This includes comanage- outreach education to facilities and health care provid-
ment of ICU-admitted obstetric patients. A maternal– ers in their region; and provide analysis and evaluation
fetal medicine team member with full privileges is avail- of regional data, including perinatal complications and
able at all times for on-site consultation and management. outcomes, as part of collaboration with lower-level care
The team should be led by a board-certified maternal– facilities in the region. Community outreach and data
fetal medicine subspecialist with expertise in critical analysis and evaluation will require additional resources
care obstetrics. The maternal–fetal medicine team must in personnel and equipment within these facilities.
have expertise in critical care at the physician level, Although specific supporting data are not currently
nursing level, and ancillary services level. A key prin- available in maternal health, it is believed that concentrat-
ciple of caring for critically ill pregnant and peripar- ing the care of women with the most complex pregnan-
tum women is the facility’s recognition of the need for cies at designated regional perinatal health care centers
seamless communication between maternal–fetal medi- will allow these centers to maintain the expertise needed
cine subspecialists and other subspecialists in the plan- to achieve optimal outcomes. Regionalization of maternal
ning and facilitation of care for women with the most health care services requires that there be available and
high-risk complications of pregnancy. There should be coordinated specialized services, professional continu-
institutional support for the routine involvement of a ing education to maintain competency, facilitation of
maternal–fetal medicine care team with the critical care opportunities for transport and back-transport, and col-
units and specialists. There also should be a commitment lection of data on long-term outcomes to evaluate the
to having physician and nursing leaders with expertise in effectiveness of delivery of perinatal health care services
maternal intensive and critical care, as well as adequate and the safety and efficacy of new therapies. Because the
numbers of available RNs in level IV facilities who have health statuses of women and fetuses may differ, referral
experience in the care of women with complex medi- should be organized to meet the needs of both. In some
cal illnesses and obstetric complications; this includes cases with specific care needs, optimal coordination of
completed orientation, demonstrated competence in the care will not be delineated by geographic area, but rather
care of obstetric patients (women and fetuses) consis- by availability of specific expertise (eg, transplant services
tent with level IV care criteria. The director of obstetric or fetal surgery).
services is a board-certified maternal–fetal medicine sub-
specialist or a board-certified obstetrician–gynecologist Measurement and Evaluation of Regionalized
with expertise in critical care obstetrics. As in level III Maternal Care
facilities, anesthesia services are available onsite at all Implicit in the effort to establish levels of maternal care is
times. A board-certified anesthesiologist with special train- the goal to provide the best possible maternal outcomes, as
ing or experience in obstetric anesthesia should be in well as ongoing quality improvement. If levels of mater-
charge of obstetric anesthesia services. Level IV facilities nal care improve care, then ensuring that appropriate

Obstetric Care Consensus No. 2 11

transfer of women occurs should be associated with a unanswered. Follow-up interdisciplinary work groups
decrease in preventable maternal severe morbidities are needed to further explore the implementation needs
and mortality. There also should be a shift toward less to adopt the proposed classification system for levels of
severe morbidity in lower-level care facilities. Therefore, maternal care in all facilities that provide maternal care.
facilities and regional systems should develop methods to The determination of the appropriate level of care
track severe maternal morbidity and mortality to assess to be provided by a given facility should be guided by
the efficacy of utilizing maternal levels of care. local and state health care regulations, national accredi-
Operational definitions are needed to compare data tation and professional organization guidelines, and
and outcomes between levels of maternal care. However, identified regional perinatal health care service needs (6).
waiting for the precise measure before establishing tiered State and regional authorities should work together with
levels of care invites unnecessary delay. Therefore, two the multiple institutions within a region to determine the
constructs to implement with the utilization of levels appropriate coordinated system of care.
of maternal care are proposed: 1) identify women at
extreme risk of morbidity and 2) identify severe morbid- References
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Obstetric Care Consensus No. 2 13

 Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Grading System: Grading of Recommendations
Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) Recommendations
Obstetric Care Consensus documents will use Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s grading approach: http://www.ajog.org/article/
S0002-9378%2813%2900744-8/fulltext. Recommendations are classified as either strong (Grade 1) or weak (Grade 2), and quality of
evidence is classified as high (Grade A), moderate (Grade B), and low (Grade C)*. Thus, the recommendations can be 1 of the following
6 possibilities: 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C.

Grade of Clarity of Risk Quality of

Recommendation and Benefit Supporting Evidence Implications
1A. Strong recommendation, Benefits clearly outweigh risk Consistent evidence from Strong recommendations, can
high quality evidence and burdens, or vice versa. well performed randomized apply to most patients in most
controlled trials or over- circumstances without reservation.
whelming evidence of some Clinicians should follow a strong
other form. Further research recommendation unless a clear
is unlikely to change and compelling rationale for an
confidence in the estimate alternative approach is present.
of benefit and risk.
1B. Strong recommendation, Benefits clearly outweigh risk Evidence from randomized Strong recommendation, and
moderate quality evidence and burdens, or vice versa. controlled trials with important applies to most patients.
limitations (inconsistent Clinicians should follow a strong
results, methodologic flaws, recommendation unless a clear
indirect or imprecise), or very and compelling rationale for an
strong evidence of some other alternative approach is present.
research design. Further
research (if performed) is
likely to have an impact on
confidence in the estimate of
benefit and risk and may
change the estimate.
1C. Strong recommendation, Benefits appear to outweigh Evidence from observational Strong recommendation, and
low quality evidence risk and burdens, or vice versa. studies, unsystematic clinical applies to most patients. Some of
experience, or from randomized the evidence base supporting the
controlled trials with serious recommendation is, however, of
flaws. Any estimate of effect low quality.
is uncertain.
2A. Weak recommendation, Benefits closely balanced Consistent evidence from well- Weak recommendation, best
high quality evidence with risks and burdens. performed randomized action may differ depending on
controlled trials or over- circumstances or patients or
whelming evidence of some societal values.
other form. Further research is
unlikely to change confidence
in the estimate of benefit
and risk.
2B. Weak recommendation, Benefits closely balanced Evidence from randomized Weak recommendation, alternative
moderate quality evidence with risks and burdens; some controlled trials with important approaches likely to be better for
uncertainty in the estimates limitations (inconsistent results, some patients under some
of benefits, risks, and burdens. methodologic flaws, indirect or circumstances.
imprecise), or very strong
evidence of some other
research design. Further
research (if performed) is likely
to have an effect on confidence
in the estimate of benefit and
risk and may change the estimate.
2C. Weak recommendation, Uncertainty in the estimates Evidence from observational Very weak recommendation, other
low quality evidence of benefits, risks, and burdens; studies, unsystematic clinical alternatives may be equally
benefits may be closely experience, or from randomized reasonable
balanced with risks and burdens. controlled trials with serious flaws.
Any estimate of effect is uncertain.
Best practice Recommendation in which either (i) there is enormous amount of indirect evidence that clearly justifies
strong recommendation (direct evidence would be challenging, and inefficient use of time and resources,
to bring together and carefully summarize), or (ii) recommendation to contrary would be unethical.
Modified from Grading guide. In: UpToDate, Basow, DS (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA, 2013. Available at: http://www.uptodate.com/home/grading-guide. Retrieved
October 9, 2013.
*Guyatt GH, Oxman AD, Vist GE, Kunz R, Falck-Ytter Y, Alonso-Coello P, et al. GRADE: an emerging consensus on rating quality of evidence and strength of recom-
mendations. GRADE Working Group. BMJ 2008;336:924–6.

Also published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Copyright February 2015 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 409 12th Street, SW,
PO Box 96920, Washington, DC 20090-6920. All rights reserved.
Levels of maternal care. Obstetric Care Consensus No. 2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Obstet Gynecol 2015;125:502–15.

14 Obstetric Care Consensus No. 2