Improving Maternal Health Outcomes

At Community Health Network, we know that it takes exceptional care to improve the maternal health outcomes in our communities. That’s why we’re dedicated to creating a more accessible and equitable environment for maternal health patients.

Community's Efforts

The first step toward improving maternal health outcomes is listening to mothers and mothers-to-be. By gaining a true understanding of what their expectations and desires are, we align our goals and our multidisciplinary medical expertise to provide the best health outcomes possible.

The second step toward improvement is thorough and accurate education. Community Health Network strives to provide evidence-based knowledge and shared decision-making with each of our patients.

Important Initiatives

Change can’t happen without implementing initiatives that motivate progress. That’s why Community has committees dedicated to ensuring caregivers have the most up-to-date information on evidence-based treatment and management protocol. From routine procedures to the most complex clinical situations, Community caregivers are prepared to provide each mom or mother-to-be with the best care.

We’ve also made changes to order-sets and various methods of how clinical information is captured. This assisted with improving the standardization of care across the entire network. Strengthening our network allows us to provide exceptional care.

Overcoming Access Barriers

In order to help the communities we serve; we must acknowledge that people come from various walks of life. They have different exposures, experiences and unique outlooks that impact how they interact with and can access healthcare.

To this end, some community members may need additional assistance obtaining resources — like transportation, food, funding, job security, shelter and more. These needs can create barriers to a patient's ability to receive the care they need. Community is mindful of these obstacles and works to improve access by providing more opportunities. For example, virtual appointments allow those without transportation to still connect with a provider. We also offer programs that assist mothers and mothers-to-be in need — alleviating some of the stress of inaccessibility. Assistance in finding free or reduced-cost resources are also readily available through Community Connect.

We are committed to breaking down these barriers and improving access in effort to improve maternal health outcomes.

Another way Community is tackling the priorities of the community is through a program called Community Benefit. This program serves a broad spectrum of initiatives but includes tackling social determinants of health for the public, as well as understanding barriers to care. Maternal and infant health are one of five significant health needs in our communities and we continue to make headway.

Preparation Matters

Preparing for complications and unforeseen outcomes is essential to providing patients with the best care possible. Community providers and caregivers partake in individual and team simulations of common complications to prepare for any scenario. This forward thinking and planning builds quick recognition and response, should complications ever arise. Caregivers are specifically trained in top-of-the-list experiences like maternal hypertensive crisis (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia) and postpartum hemorrhage. If you have questions about these potential complications, be sure to discuss them with your care team and walk through any concerns.

For Mothers-To-Be

It’s important for moms-to-be to know why regular checkups during pregnancy matter. Having the right tools, information, and support can make a big difference for pregnant women. At Community, we want to make sure moms and moms-to-be always feel supported and can talk openly with their doctors and nurses.

Perinatal Nurse Navigation Program

One way we help is with our Perinatal Nurse Navigation Program. It’s designed for women who are at higher risk of complications, such as preterm delivery or postpartum issues, often due to medical conditions or life challenges.

Special nurses called perinatal nurse navigators lead the program. They help women during pregnancy and for up to a year after the baby arrives.

You can meet with these nurses virtually or in person, when needed. They can connect you to community resources, doctors who are experts, and teach you about breastfeeding, safe sleep for your baby, and how to make your home healthy for both of you.

To join, you need to receive prenatal care at one of our OB/GYN clinics, and your care team must refer you. Our main goal is to help every mom have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. For questions about the program, please reach out to your doctor or nurse directly.

Learn more about the women’s and maternal care options available at Community Health Network.