Montgomery County proclaims Minority Health Month; hospital leader outlines steps to reduce maternal disparities

The Montgomery County Council opened its April 1 meeting by recognizing National Minority Health Month and reaffirming a county commitment to equity in health care access and preventive services. Council Member Lori Ann Sales led the proclamation, citing local data showing that nearly one in six residents rely on Medicaid and that Black and Hispanic residents face higher rates of low birthweight and preterm births.

Why it matters: Council members said the county ranks among the healthiest in the nation overall, but emphasized that those benefits are not evenly shared. "We still face significant economic and racial disparities in health care," Council Member Sales said as she introduced community minority health programs including the Latino Health Initiative, African American Health Program and the Asian American Health Initiative.

MedStar hospital strategy: Dr. Ngozi Wexler, chief medical officer at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center and an OB‑GYN, described clinical and operational steps her hospital has taken to reduce severe maternal morbidity, which she said "disproportionately impacts women of color." Wexler outlined safety reviews for every postpartum hemorrhage case, the introduction of a "code OB hemorrhage" rapid‑response protocol, expanded simulation drills, routine risk assessments and pre‑delivery timeouts. She also described use of tranexamic acid in labor and increased access to iron infusions before delivery to reduce anemia and bleeding risk.

Community partnerships and continuity of care: Wexler stressed that hospital efforts are paired with external partners. She described outreach to community programs to provide case workers who visit patients in their homes during pregnancy and up to one year after delivery, and collaboration with Maternal Mortality review and hypertension‑reduction initiatives. "We are committed to ensuring that every mother, regardless of background, receives the highest standard of care," she said.

Council response and next steps: Council members thanked hospitals and county health staff for the briefing and noted the need to protect access to services that affect minority health, including reproductive and gender-affirming care. The proclamation was entered into the record; council members said they will continue to partner with health programs and community groups to track outcomes and advance equitable services.

Ending: The council moved on to general business after the presentation; staff and community partners who attended were acknowledged by the council.