CanOSS Ontario and BORN Ontario partner on a new surveillance initiative beginning on World Postpartum Hemorrhage Day, October 5
OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 5, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Canadian Obstetric Survey System (CanOSS), in partnership with the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario, today launched CanOSS Ontario, the first provincial pilot of a national initiative to understand severe maternal complications and turn what is learned into safer care.
The pilot begins by tackling severe hemorrhage, known to be the leading cause of maternal deaths following childbirths in Ontario. The launch coincides with the World Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Day, a global call to reduce maternal deaths due to excessive bleeding following childbirth. Future review cycles will focus on other serious pregnancy-related conditions such as sepsis and preeclampsia.
"Severe maternal complications are rarely explained by one factor alone," said Dr. Rohan D'Souza, lead of CanOSS Ontario and Canada Research Chair in Maternal Health at McMaster University. "Understanding what sits behind them is essential if we want to improve care. The response from hospitals and assessors across Ontario has been overwhelming. There is a genuine willingness to look closely at these events, learn from them, and use that knowledge to make birth safer."
A new approach to maternal health surveillance
CanOSS Ontario uses confidential, multidisciplinary case reviews to examine the full circumstances surrounding severe complications. The initiative focuses on identifying patterns, uncovering modifiable factors, and translating findings into improvements in care across the province.
A partnership for system-wide learning
BORN Ontario provides the registry infrastructure for the pilot, including data collection, governance, privacy protection, and knowledge translation. CanOSS Ontario is leading the confidential enquiry process, synthesis of findings and dissemination of actionable strategies.
"This is exactly why our provincial networks were formed," said Dr. Jon Barrett, Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at McMaster University. "The goal was to use the data to improve outcomes. If Ontario can do this, it can help show the way for the rest of Canada."
"At BORN Ontario, we believe every pregnancy and birth has something to teach us," said Alicia St. Hill, Executive Director of BORN Ontario. "While maternal deaths are rare, maternal complications resulting in severe morbidity affect many more women and families across our province. By helping our system understand and learn from these experiences, we can move beyond counting adverse events to preventing them."
Building towards a national surveillance system
The Ontario pilot represents the first step toward a coordinated national obstetric surveillance system for Canada.
Acknowledgement
CanOSS Ontario and BORN Ontario gratefully acknowledge the 25 participating birthing facilities and the 40 members of the CanOSS Ontario College of Assessors for their time, expertise, and commitment to strengthening maternal health care across Ontario. Their contributions are essential to building a system that learns from serious complications and turns those lessons into safer care.
About CanOSS
The Canadian Obstetric Survey System (CanOSS) is developing a Canada-wide system to better understand severe maternal morbidity and the factors that contribute to serious pregnancy complications.
About BORN Ontario
The Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario is Ontario's prescribed perinatal, newborn, and child health registry. Established in 2009, BORN works with health-system partners to turn data and evidence into actionable insights that improve care.
Quick links
SOURCE BORN Ontario (Better Outcomes Registry & Network)
Media Contacts: For media inquiries or to schedule interviews, please contact: Emilie Rowe, BORN Ontario / Prenatal Screening Ontario, Email: [email protected]
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