Technology empowers rural nurses to save lives in maternal care

Rural nurses across the country deliver vital maternal care, often saving lives in communities far from the nearest hospital. Yet even in one of the most advanced health care systems in the world, the maternal health crisis persists.

The United States continues to have the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations, a troubling reality that highlights the urgent need for innovation, collaboration, and equitable access to care. For rural communities, these challenges are even more pronounced, with limited resources and workforce shortages putting both mothers and clinicians at greater risk.

Understanding the maternal health crisis

Between 2021 and 2022, the maternal mortality rate in the U.S. reached 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. In comparison, countries such as Japan and Spain report only two to three deaths per 100,000.

For rural women — particularly in Black and Brown communities — the risks are even higher. Lora Sparkman, MHA, RN, partner for clinical solutions and vice president for safety and quality at Relias, points to both clinical and systemic factors behind these outcomes, including:

•  Limited access to prenatal and postpartum care
• Untreated chronic conditions
• Social determinants of health that delay or prevent timely treatment
   

But mortality tells only part of the story. Each year, an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 women experience severe maternal complications such as hemorrhage, hypertension, infection, or mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and substance use.

Behind every number is a mother, a family, and a community forever changed. Improving maternal health means more than preventing death, it means ensuring every woman has the support and care she needs to recover, heal, and thrive.

Sparkman emphasizes that progress begins before pregnancy through consistent care and targeted support for those at risk. “It’s not just about preventing death,” she says. “It’s about supporting well-being throughout the maternal journey.”

The power of standardized, evidence-based education

In rural health care settings where resources and staffing can vary, standardization becomes a vital equalizer. Relias partners with health care organizations nationwide to ensure that every clinician — from physicians and midwives to rural nurses — receives current, evidence-based training aligned with national best practices.

“Our work is focused on making sure that physicians, nurses, midwives, or anyone caring for pregnant people are utilizing evidence-based guidelines,” Sparkman explains. “This includes protocols for managing hypertensive disorders, obstetric hemorrhage, and substance use during pregnancy.”

Interdisciplinary training strengthens communication, builds confidence, and ensures every member of the care team is aligned in their response.

Bringing education closer to home through technology

Delivering consistent, high-quality education across rural regions is challenging. That is where technology makes a transformative difference.

Investing in emerging tools such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality can help create immersive and accessible learning experiences. “Traditional classroom-style instruction has one of the lowest knowledge transfer rates,” Sparkman says. “But immersive, experiential learning like that offered through VR enhances cognition, critical thinking, and judgment.”

These tools make education more flexible and accessible. From mobile modules to virtual simulations, they let rural nurses practice real-world scenarios anytime and anywhere, building both confidence and competence.

Addressing disparities through connection and collaboration

No two rural communities are the same. Maternal outcomes can differ drastically between neighboring counties, reflecting disparities tied to geography, race, income, and access to care. Rural women are more likely to live in maternity care deserts and may have to travel more than 30 miles to reach a delivery facility. These distances, combined with limited prenatal services and transportation barriers, increase the risk of complications and delayed treatment.

Workforce shortages further compound these challenges. Many rural hospitals struggle to recruit and retain obstetric nurses, midwives, and physicians. As a result, clinicians often serve broader patient populations with fewer resources and less access to specialty support. In emergency situations such as hemorrhage or hypertensive crises, these staffing limitations can mean the difference between stabilization and transfer.

Closing these gaps requires coordinated solutions. Data-sharing partnerships between hospitals, regional perinatal quality collaboratives, and public health agencies help identify where disparities are greatest and guide targeted interventions. Community-based programs such as home visiting services, telehealth prenatal check-ins, and local midwifery initiatives strengthen early detection and continuity of care. Federal agencies like HHS and HRSA continue to expand funding to bolster rural maternal health infrastructure, workforce training, and telemedicine capacity, ensuring that distance and demographics no longer determine maternal outcomes.

Social determinants of health also play a significant role in rural maternal outcomes. Limited transportation options, childcare access, and broadband connectivity can prevent pregnant people from attending appointments or following up after delivery. Many rural families face financial barriers or lack paid leave, which further limits their ability to seek timely care. Addressing these factors requires partnerships that go beyond clinical settings and engage schools, employers, and community health programs to support families throughout pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

Across the country, state-led initiatives are improving transfer coordination, expanding telehealth access for high-risk pregnancies, and providing simulation-based training to rural care teams. These collaborative efforts show that when communication, education, and technology come together, maternal outcomes improve and communities grow stronger.

A shared mission for healthier mothers and communities

With more than four decades of nursing and leadership experience, Sparkman has seen firsthand how technology and teamwork can save lives. “When clinicians show competence and it results in better patient outcomes, that’s the true measure of success,” she says.

The progress unfolding in rural maternal care reflects the power of collaboration, continuous education, and equitable access to resources. Improving outcomes depends on supporting local clinicians, strengthening data-driven partnerships, and ensuring every mother receives timely, high-quality care regardless of where she lives. Together, health care professionals, educators, and communities are helping close the distance in maternal care and build a stronger, safer future for families across rural America.

NRHA adapted the above piece from Relias Healthcare Workforce Management Solutions, a trusted NRHA partner, for publication within the Association’s Rural Health Voices blog.
 

About the author: Jolene Bastian serves as director of community growth at Relias, driving efforts to strengthen professional connections and elevate health care education. Her work focuses on uniting clinicians and organizations through shared learning and community engagement.