Background: Reducing maternal mortality rate (MMR) remains a paramount goal for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially after COVID-19’s devastating impact on maternal health indicators. We describe our experience implementing the Hospital Padrino Strategy (HPS), a collaborative model between a high-complexity hospital (Fundación Valle del Lili) and 43 medium- and low-complexity hospitals in one Colombian department from 2021 to 2022, to sustain the trend towards reducing MMR. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods cohort study, in alignment with the needs identified by the Health Secretary of the Valle del Cauca department, where the intervention took place. The strategy included two phases: an educational module to strengthen teams in managing obstetric emergencies, followed by the implementation of telehealth strategies to guide the management in the high-complexity hospitals. Over a year, these modules, which assess safety conditions for obstetric emergencies care and create a safe care network, were implemented. Findings: We held 51 workshops involving 980 health workers, covering the entire territory. Substantial improvements were observed in hospital conditions and healthcare personnel's technical competencies when providing obstetric care. Seven hundred eighty-five pregnant women with obstetric or perinatal emergencies received cared through telehealth systems, with a progressive increase in technology adoption. Eight percent required ICU admission; and none died. MMR decreased from 78.8 in 2021 to 12.0 cases per 100,000 live births by 2022. This reduction instilled confidence and empowerment among the teams involved. Interpretation: Implementing the Hospital Padrino Strategy led to a significant MMR reduction, and consolidated a model of social healthcare innovation replicable in LMICs.Funding: The Hospital Padrino Strategy was funded by the Fundación Valle del Lili and the Valle del Cauca Health Secretariat.Declaration of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest.Ethical Approval: The institutional review board approved the study protocol (IRB/EC No. 181; Act No. 09-2022).