Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM) Surveillance

The data and surveillance arm has developed the nation's first Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM) surveillance program which will track unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant short- and long-term health consequences. This will play a critical role in identifying and understanding SMM trends within Philadelphia's hospitals, using hospital-level clinical data for in-depth analysis. It's a proactive system for identifying SMM cases, offering valuable insights for public health improvements and pinpointing opportunities for targeted interventions.

Data Definitions

Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM): Unanticipated, adverse outcomes related to labor and delivery that have serious short- and long-term consequences on an individual's health.

Morbidity: Having a specific disease, condition, or symptom.

Cases of SMM are not cases of maternal mortality, but SMMs can lead to maternal death if they are not identified and treated.

Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM) in Philadelphia

  • Severe Maternal Morbidity in Philadelphia, 2011-2021

    Data Source: PA Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) Inpatient Discharge Data

    *Note: These data were collected using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definition of SMM, which is based on 21 ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes (see here). This definition of SMM differs from the clinical case definition that is used by Philadelphia's active SMM surveillance system, which launched in 2024. This page will be updated as findings from our new surveillance system become available.

  • Severe Maternal Morbidity Rate by Maternal Age, 2016-2022

  • Severe Maternal Morbidity by Race and Ethnicity, 2016-2022