OBLS featured in Contemporary OB/GYN
- OBLS.org
- Jul 10, 2025
- 1 min read
OBLS Training Boosts Readiness for Maternal Cardiac Arrest
A new study published in JAMA Network Open shows that Obstetric Life Support (OBLS) significantly improves healthcare providers’ ability to manage maternal cardiac arrest (MCA)—a rare but life-threatening emergency that affects roughly 1 in 3,885 patients admitted for delivery in the U.S.
Despite a maternal mortality rate of 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births and a low MCA survival rate of 16%, there are currently no standardized national training requirements for MCA response. OBLS aims to change that.
In a randomized clinical trial involving EMS and hospital-based clinicians, OBLS participants received simulation-based training on evidence-based MCA protocols. Results were striking:
Cognitive scores jumped from 63% in the control group to nearly 80% in the OBLS group.
Megacode (simulation) performance improved from 61% to 91%.
Confidence and pass rates soared among OBLS-trained participants.
The study confirms what OBLS instructors already see in the field: targeted, team-based training saves lives. Broader implementation of OBLS could be a key step toward closing critical knowledge gaps and improving maternal outcomes nationwide.
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