The use of early warning systems is an emerging standard for labor & delivery to combat the rising rate pregnancy-related mortality in the United States.  They are recommended by over 21 professional obstetric associations and societies because their use is associated with substantially improved care and reduced maternal morbidity.

• Global, regional, and national levels of maternal mortality, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015  Kassebaum, Nicholas J et al. Lancet. 2016 Oct 8; 388(10053): 1775–1812.
• Severe Maternal Morbidity in the United States by CDC
• Main EK, McCain CL, Morton CH, Holtby S, Lawton ES. Pregnancy-related mortality in California: causes, characteristics, and improvement opportunities. Obstet Gynecol. 2015
• Sadler LC, Farquhar CM, Masson VL, Battin MR. Contributory factors and potentially avoidable neonatal encephalopathy associated with perinatal asphyxia.  Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016
• Use of Maternal Early Warning Trigger tool reduces maternal morbidity Shields LE, Wiesner S, Klein C, Pelltreau B, Hedriana HL. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Apr;216(4)527
• Isaacs, RA, Wee MYK, Bick DE, et al. (2015) A national survey of obstetric early warning surveys in the United Kingdom: five years on. Anaesthesia 2014;69:687-9
• Mhyre JM, DʼOria R, Hameed AB, Lappen JR, Holley SL, Hunter SK, Jones RL, King JC, DʼAlton ME. The maternal early warning criteria: a proposal from the national partnership for maternal safety. Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Oct;124(4):782-6.
• Shields LE, Wiesner S, Klein C, Pelletreau B, Hedriana HL. Early standardized treatment of critical blood pressure elevations is associated with a reduction in eclampsia and severe maternal morbidity. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Apr;216(4):