Baton Rouge, LA – The Louisiana Department of Health is officially launching Project M.O.M. (Maternal Overdose Mortality) with the announcement of the project’s director, website, and patient journey map designed to introduce participating hospitals, providers, and other stakeholders to this transformative initiative. Project M.O.M. aims to reverse the urgent crisis of accidental opioid overdose as the primary cause of maternal mortality in Louisiana.
“Accidental opioid overdose has been the leading cause of pregnancy-associated death in Louisiana since 2018, and this is a statewide effort to reverse that terrible trend,” said Deputy Secretary Dr. Pete Croughan. “Every preventable death is a tragedy, but the death of a pregnant woman or young mom doubles the tragedy, as the loss of the mother endangers her child.”LDH
One of three new key initiatives announced April 21 by new Secretary of Health Bruce D. Greenstein, Project M.O.M. aims to reduce pregnancy-associated opioid overdose deaths by 80% within the next three years, while protecting an untold number of infants from loss or foster care placement.
Carrie Templeton, who joined LDH in October, will lead the program. She previously held executive roles at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Lafayette General Surgical Hospital, Iberia Medical Center, and Lafayette General Health.